John was 5 years old when he was introduced to Greyhound Racing world..he's parents buy 3 Greyhounds from Auction..so going to Tracks regularly become normal life for young john..was start of exciting Aventure for boy of 5yo..this was early 1980s so dog Tracks was full up with crowds of gamblers and family for fun time night out..could get drinks alcohol and pop drinks for kids and food like chips and burgers ..and adults can put there bets on track tote or bookmakers stand..your choice..the Atmosphere was amazing..almost unbelievable..well especially for boy johns age..so much talking about what Dog will win next races coming up..6 dogs races well it uk ..so every form expert thinks they got the cert winner..and punters end up all picking different..so get tip for all 6 dogs in race comeing up..it about 20mins gap between races..time for bets and drink and food and toilet..was even older grey haired man selling peanuts in shells..they very popular with crowds..sell lots..john would see so man used peanuts shell all over floor..yes bin would been better...young john didn't always watch races he go round pick up old betting tickets..and get handful..then put in bin and start again...he like things tidy..like he got job helping track to stay clean...could get Dangerous when people drink too much..and leave empty glasses on floor ..sometimes dropping them ..john got used to sound of broken glasses..and noisy crowds..become very normal after few months...john used get more excited when he's parents Greyhound would be running that night...lots people asking hes parents is dog going win..hopeing for tip or certain winner...night dog Did win was unbelievable for John ..all crowds cheering Name of dog you no so well by now..john goes on track with mum and Dad to collect the winners trophy ..lots off congratulations from from people well especially the ones who bet on it..lots camera flashing ..john as picture done with mum and Dad..lovely memory..john not forget for rest off hes life...mabe once month or 2 months Dogs would win so have do it quiet regularly..the 3 Greyhounds two was very successful win lots good class races and other was not very good..mabe win 2 or 3 race in career...but life on track for Greyhound is about 3 years ..they start about 18months then end by 4 or 5 yo..then u can take them home like young johns parents did..and give them good retirement..but many not get that good retirement..thats sad part of Greyhounds life...many years later young john was 12 years old..he would walk past betting shops and hear cheering again for winner...the feeling come back to john very fast...the buzz was there again..so he had bit money from paper rounds and family treats.so he would get older friends and family to sometimes place 50p on dog so he could just listen to commentary at door way of betting shops..would feel excitement when he dog would win and get few pound back...was good times..but loseing days was just bad feeling mabe go quiet and moody for while..until can get money to Gamble Again...went on for many years this way mabe lose Pound 10 week..john still a boy so not need worry about paying bills and rent like older Gamblers Do they have very stressful life indeed..but for john by 18 or 19 he doing full time work mabe 30 to 40 hours week.. so got lot more to lose Now thats start of he's stresses..all about Friday pay day this 1990s now ..so wage be Pound 150 to Pound 200...thats lot bigger stake money ..John would start putting Pound 5 to Pound 10 on now..so lot more worry about win or lose now..in few hours could lose mabe Pound 100 ..so it get him very sad and down ..could some Friday lose all money he worked hard to make on same day...so as can imagine he's life was so going wrong..bad moods and worry ..not wanting to go work Monday again...because he no he more Likely lose it again...but was Times he feel the Buzz thinking it's worth carry on betting so can have big win ..well that did happen mabe once or twice a year...but loses are get out control...especially now hes 20 and got place off he own to live...so needs pay rent And gas and Electric both on card meter so need topping up or no light or gas..now he's got responsibilitys..that still not what johns thinking off...just Friday and gambling..john sometime buy small amount of food cheap noddles and some waffles and few tins of beans...but that just for day or two...and not Top Gas Card up..just Pound 10 on electric for lights and TV...sometimes pay rent other weeks john would not..so problems are Coming big Time...Still loseing 80 % of he's wages every Friday...Not living normal life...john spent long time doing this..was lending of good friends and Family ..but they not going be happy doing that for long...most days after John run up Debts he try stay out way of people who Ask for money back on Friday payday..he sooner have money and risk to get winner to pay them after..but that didn't work out like that very often...if ever...john was getting very selfish only thinking about next bet or ways raise stake...was Crazy life to non Gambler..just Throwing Hard earned money Away every payday...hes Addiction was so bad...he couldn't go one week without bet..most days he try and bet in he's lunch Breaks ..so put him in terrible moods lots of Days..just no Escape now..hes in 100% Taken over he's life...getting very Depressed not doing much just work and betting...so unhealthy way for Man in he's 20s...john as been Gambling now for Over10 years..hes life not Changed in that time still living Day to Day ..Bet to Bet..very Sad...he could better life for sure...John got in to hes 30s Still liveing same way..but Debts Are so much Higher Now..Friends and Family lost Respect For John And he's Lifestyle...He Could been Married And had kids By Now ..But Johns Mind was in Different place...Buzz he Got at very Young Age would Affect rest of He's life..but he wouldn't Really No that...just liveing Day to Day with he's Terrible Addiction..in He's 40s He's still not Change..Not Sure he Ever will...
