play the horses

play the horses

To make bets on the outcomes of horse races. I nearly lost our entire life savings playing the horses one weekend. After that, I never gambled again in my life. My father always used to take me and my brother to play the horses on the last Sunday of the month, letting us pick which horse to put the money on.
See also: horse, play
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • play the ponies
  • such is life
  • Such is life!
  • so is life
  • stream
  • be on a short leash
  • be on a tight leash
  • jeux
  • so it goes
  • leash
References in periodicals archive
I used to go to Vegas and play the horses and then I realised how ridiculous that was.
LEADERSHIP and MANAGEMENT
Goya's print displays five elderly men performing a strange bullfight: Two of them act as the picadors, sitting on two others who play the horses, while the fifth plays the bull, teased with a lance by the so-called picadors.
Narcisse Tordoir: MUSEUM DHONDT-DHAENENS/CULTUURCENTRUM MECHELEN
The dancers who play the horses are incredibly realistic and the haunting music adds to the atmosphere.
Brave, disturbing, and some of the best acting you'll see; Equus new theatre, Cardiff ****
If you play the horses regularly you'll want to keep the insights of HANDICAPPING THE WALL STREET WAY: PICKING EXTRA WINNERS AT THE TRACK close at hand: it's a slim handbook but packed with insights analyzing the betting market, the psychology involved, strategies for successful horseplaying at the track, and developing an effective personal risk profile to hone risk and skills.
Handicapping the Wall Street Way
If you play the horses and want to win, you can't be without SIX SECRETS OF SUCCESSFUL BETTORS: WINNING INSIGHTS INTO PLAYING THE HORSES.
Six Secrets of Successful Bettors
In the other ceremony the minister cautioned the bride, "Yes, Tony likes to play the horses, but be thankful that when he wins he brings you home a nice dress" That advice was given in 1999!
Sunday morning dysfunctions: service is not memorable for the preacher but for the people in the pews
The soccer legend isn't even content to just play the horses but fills in the gaps in races by turning his attention to the slot machines.
ADDICTED; First it was booze - now George is blowing his cash in marathon sessions at the BOOKIES
WHY play the horses or the pools when you can enter Channel 5's Great House Game?
TV PLUS; Cabbies' long slow route is; DEAD FUNNY
I really don't play the horses although I own a couple.
The player
Maybe they filmed Casey's Shadow in the morning, leaving Matthau free to play the horses in the afternoon.
Let's hope this great filly can sweep the colts away