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Horse Racing
简体
Horse Racing
赛马

Learn the Past Progressive Tense

Date: Sep 19 2012

Themes: Hobbies, Sports

Grammar: Past Progressive Tense

Intro

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2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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There are a lot of ways to throw money away. But betting on horse races at the track has to be one of the most exciting.

Horse racing in America is associated with wealth and prestige. People who breed and own thoroughbreds are usually rich, and major competitions like the Kentucky Derby have an air of old-fashioned elegance. But the average Joe at the track is a lot more likely to lose money than make any by betting on the races.

Amy recently went to the track. Find out if her luck was good as she and Marni talk about horse racing.

烧钱的方式有很多种,但赌马是最令人激动的方式之一。

在美国,赛马通常与财富和声望有关。通常,养马并拥有纯种马的人都很富有,大型赛马比赛还会透出一种古典的优雅,例如肯塔基赛马会 (Kentucky Derby)。但是普通人在赌马时,输钱的几率要大于赢钱的几率。

艾米最近去了赛马场。她正与玛尼谈论赛马,看看她的运气怎样。

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Amy

Amy

Marni

Marni

Amy:  Have you ever been to the track for a horse race, Marni?

Marni:  You know, I have not, but I’ve always been intrigued by it. You see it in the movies, and it just looks so cool. There’s so much excitement, and people are placing bets, and it’s just…Yeah, I’d like to go.

Amy:  It’s true. I went this last weekend, and I have to say, it’s a weird combination of exciting and depressing.

Marni:  How so? Depressing? I’ve never thought about that.

Amy:  Well, for one thing, I too have sort of a romantic image of horse racing from the movies. Like, I picture people getting dressed up and wearing fancy hats and stuff. But it’s also just a place where people who are addicted to gambling go.

Marni:  Ahh, yeah.

Amy:  And I also feel kind of bad for the horses. I don’t know if they’re happy.

Marni:  I was wondering about that. Do you think it’s kind of cruel in some sense, horse racing? ‘Cause yeah, is this what these horses want to be doing?

Amy:  Right.

 

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Discussion

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Marni tells Amy that she has always been curious about horse racing. She has never gone to the track, but she has seen a lot of horse races in movies. They always look fun and interesting to her.

Amy went to the track for the first time recently. She thought it was fun, but not as glamorous as she had imagined. She also felt sorry for the horses. It looked like neither they nor the gamblers losing money on the races were having much fun.

Have you ever seen a live horse race? Have you ever gambled at the track? Is horse racing popular in your country?

 

Comments

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moha15

Kenya

haha all i have rode is A ROCKING HORSE lol

06:46 PM May 02 2014 |

moha15

Kenya

i have not ride a horse in my life but i will try it once in future 

06:44 PM May 02 2014 |

Mr. Learner

Peru

In fact, I like horses very much. From my childhood I was planning to have a horse. I won’t buy a horse for racing matters, but because I love horses I’ll have a one and take care of it. I haven’t ever seen a live horse racing, though, and I didn’t ever gambled, because it’s forbidden in my religion.

06:40 AM Sep 27 2012 |

eddie81

Poland

I think that horse ricing is one of worst sports when we talk about equistrian much more delicate and save for both the horse and the riders is for exemple, well I don’t know how to say it in english but what I mean is dance on a horse.


That kind of work with the horse is much more thinkable, there is some kind of unsaid understanding between the rider and a horse, and this is the most spectaular!

09:15 AM Sep 26 2012 |

zarin.setare

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

i didnt see a live horse race.gambeling is taboo in our religion then horse racing isnt popular in our country.

01:24 PM Sep 24 2012 |

Nabilo

Nabilo

Germany

that’s not good for money and timeSmile

10:31 AM Sep 22 2012 |

i love life

Palestinian Territory, Occupied

Actually we are living in the middle east we have some traditions here about horse Racing , some rich people here buying this competition with very high price , specially in the Gulf Arab , For me In my country we didn’t have such like this horse racing because of our conditions living here , But I Have been seeing horse Racing On T.v .


Really there’s much Excitement when you see lots of gamblers put lots of money In order to for win.


This is very nice sport ,some  people prefer it   , In our religion this is against our religion because we can play , we can select what we need , what we want , but the gambles is forbidden , this kind of sport reflect about the high class

04:07 PM Sep 21 2012 |

1 person likes this

princessanika

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

it isen’t good or wonderful,i think it’s boringUndecided

08:45 AM Sep 20 2012 |

karsana

karsanaSuper Member!

Indonesia

yes , ihave ever seen horse race in the television when i am in australia last year. but ihave never gambled, it’s waste the money.

12:07 AM Sep 20 2012 |

koki716

koki716

Algeria

No i never seen a live horse race, i don’t like this at all and is not popular in my country. 

10:16 PM Sep 19 2012 |

sarah bary

sarah bary

Iraq

Ihave never seen a live horse race because there is no horse racing in my country Iraq ..gambled is forbidding in our religion Islam ..so that  horse race isn’t popular in my country

08:12 PM Sep 19 2012 |

raisacorrea

Brazil

I never seen a horse race.


I don’t like this kind of event, in Brazil exist, but it isn’t popular.

07:22 PM Sep 19 2012 |

1 person likes this

tutorheatherSuper Member!

United States

Hi all,


It seems like there are lots of animal lovers here. :)


I am a passionate advocate for animals, and I think pressuring horses in this way is cruel. They’re living beings and not on this Earth for the purpose of gambling. They are such beautiful, magnificent creatures who are worthy of great respect.


As much as I think they’re beautiful, I cannot go anywhere near a horse. I have a severe allergy to horses. Within a few minutes of being near horse hair I stop breathing, so I have to admire them from afar.


I hope everyone is having a really great day. It’s starting to get cool here in Maine, USA. Summer is definitely over.

06:20 PM Sep 19 2012 |

1 person likes this

Estuardo2

Peru

No, I think that in my country, we respect to the horses.

05:45 PM Sep 19 2012 |

pink_gurl

pink_gurl

Kuwait

Actually yeah i had seen a live horse racing,
 i love horses very much seeing it makes me feel happy.


 yeah horse racing popular in kuwait .


For me horse riding is great unimaginable.


When I look for horses I feel like something mythical and unique full of life.


Amazing ..

03:34 PM Sep 19 2012 |

nezar bnj

nezar bnj

Morocco

i like to see the horse racing but without gambling cuz here in Morocco gambling is forbidden in Islam religion , Also ever year we did the festival of Fantazia that’e has some differents with the horse racing , well it’s something depend on our traditionnels and customs  Smile


02:56 PM Sep 19 2012 |

SANG891

SANG891

Hong Kong

Smile

02:43 PM Sep 19 2012 |

harith_964

harith_964

Iraq

i dont’t like anything like gambling ,,, i prefer donate the money to someone in need insted of throwing it away Laughing

09:37 AM Sep 19 2012 |

Ngubo Sixtus

South Africa

i do like horse racing,it is a right place if you want to show your fashion designed. 

06:35 AM Sep 19 2012 |

rad_juliano

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

unfortunately no , i hadn’t any chance to see a live horse race through my life , since it is not so much popular in our country . but i love to ride? a horse . 

06:04 AM Sep 19 2012 |

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