Examentrainers

1

“I come from a racing

4

Gradually I got more

background - all the

and more excited,

members of my family

watching the horses

are really into horse

thunder along the

racing. As long as I can

racecourse towards the

remember, we’ve spent

finish. I’d be screaming

our week-ends at a

like mad if my horse

racecourse somewhere

won.

in the country.

5

By the time I was 14

2

I always loved going

all my pocket money

along and seeing all the

went on racing. I read

horses, but when I was

all the racing papers,

12, I started to get

trying to pick up tips

interested in placing

and following what my

bets. At first I used to

father did. On my way

give my father a pound

home from school I

and he’d place the bet

started going into

for me, but as I got

bookmakers’s offices,

older I placed the bets

at least three times a

myself.

week.

3

When you are under 18

6

My biggest win ever

it is against the law to

was £ 500 on the Grand

place bets. But I’m tall

National on a £ 10 bet!

and I’ve always looked

When you lose money

shopping in town. But I

a bet for them too, but

older than I am,

the only thing you can

just can’t get enough of

now they say they are

especially with makeup

think about is putting

it. Horse racing is my

worried about me.

on. I’m always

more money on the

life.

They think I won’t

careful to cover up my

next horse, telling

know when to stop. I

school uniform so no

yourself you’ll get a

8

When I’m a bit short of

tell them I’ve got it all

bookmaker2) has ever

big win next time.

cash I beg my father to

under control. I can

asked questions about

During my school

give me my pocket

always stop any time I

my age.

holidays I spent whole

money earlier, saying

want to… can’t I??

days just gambling 1).

I’ve got to get

deodorant or something

7

My friends think I’m

for school, but I think

crazy, spending all my

he doesn’t believe me

money and time at

any more.

racecourses while

When I first started

they’re out earning

gambling my friends

money at Saturday jobs

used to ask me to place

or meeting to go

noot 1 - betting / gambling = wedden / gokken

noot 2 - bookmaker = iemand bij wie je weddenschappen kunt afsluiten