November 3, 2024

A Day at the Races

Once a month we enjoy a Zone activity.  All the senior missionaries work so hard that an occasional break helps refuel the tank.  Elder and Sister MacLennan planned and executed a zone activity at Ellerslie Racetrack.  We didn’t bet on the horses but there were prizes for those who could correctly choose the winners.

Rick skipped this activity.  When he discovered he couldn't ride the horses he saw no point in attending.

Many purchased tickets to the Ascot Room which required dressing appropriately.  Most of the women wore hats or “fascinators”.  Irene and I stand on the end without beautiful dresses or hats.  Someone must play the role of the commoner.  We sat in the stand and enjoyed a wonderful view of the races.

Those who dressed for the races were beautiful.

Our group created quite a scene of class and style.

The picnic resembled a British tea party. 

 

Every outing is delightful with these fun people.

Curious observers always ask questions.  Every encounter proves to be fruitful.  We continually make friends with everyone who chooses to talk to us.  These outings provide more opportunities for planting seeds in the hearts of men.

The picnic lunch looked like a picture from a magazine.  Delicious food filled the platters.  Every selection was elegant and tasty.

Elder and Sister Garner glowed as quite a well-dressed couple.

The horses, and riders, enter the arena and then trot to the opposite side of the track to enter their gates.

The first racehorses approach the finish line.

Between races we checked out the horses preparing for the next event.

So many people help walk the horses, calm them, and talk to them.  It’s quite a process.  Do they know the impact of each race? 

These beautiful creatures look like solid muscles.  We tried to carefully select those that looked like fast runners.  Our unskilled eyes couldn’t choose accurately.

No doubt.  The scenery and the horses were beautiful.

Finally, Irene started making her winning selections by the jockey’s color of jersey.  The moment she spotted an orange shirt she claimed that horse was her first choice.  Imagine how hard I laughed when her chosen horse won.

I opted for the turquoise jersey the jockey wore.  Imagine my surprise when that horse placed second.  This color science could become something big.  Paul claimed the jockeys were all in middle school.  They looked so young, and half were girls.  Yeah!!

Paul and Irene joined me at the fence for one race.  How thrilling it felt to be right on the edge of the action.

I was given a ticket to the Ascot Room for the final race.  The view was no better than the bleachers, but the chairs were much more comfortable.  That concluded a red-letter day with the Shoalhaven Zone of missionaries.