Today we headed to Northlands Race course in Edmonton, to join in with the fun at Streetfest. This is a free day the Racetrack holds each year for families. It encourages everyone to head down, watch some races and learn how it all works - including how to bet! Even parking is free, which is unusual for Northlands :)
We had a really great time - there were 8 races in all, with the biggest race having a prize of $50,000.
There was entertainment for the children, food, music - and food trucks that are going to appear on the tv show 'Eat Street' soon.
As soon as we arrived, we spotted a juggler. Abigail is really 'in' to juggling this year - so she has been practicing her skills a lot. He overheard her say she can juggle, and he asked her to show him! She did so well he was really impressed - so he asked her to join in his show with him! She became hi 'right hand' and they juggled three balls between them!
Then he dropped a ball and asked her to pick it up - she did and then he dropped another and asked again - and again and again - it was soooo funny with Abigail constantly picking up dropped balls :)
He walked about the place in between races and kept coming up to Abby and asking her to join in with his tricks etc - which of course she LOVED :)
To make the races fun, I let the children pick a horse for every race and said they would get $5 if their horse won - and then on the very last race I said they would get $5 if their horse placed! The last race was the best one as Susannah and I picked the same horse but when we saw it we thought it had no chance as it was so much smaller than the others - but Susannah had studied the odds and really felt that our horse had a chance, so we stuck with it! I had also told them that with the last race you would win if your horse placed. (ie came first OR second).
Sam had the favourite, Abigail picked a horse she liked the look of. It ended up being SUCH a close race - Abigails horse was doing really well but then fell back, and our horse was in 4th much of the way - and then suddenly we weren't sure where it was and THEN - it was a photo finish!! Ours ended up being second! We placed!!
In all, EVERYONE won at least one race :) Yay! We were all so excited!
As we were leaving, a lady came up and asked how we had faired - she said she had seen us as we arrived. She was thrilled to hear that the kids ALL won some money :) She had a good day too and won $170 from small bets :)
Winners with their winnings :)
