It’s Friday 13th September! Superstitious or not, there are many punters who will keep a beady eye on the number 13 at Arlington today. Mitch Wiese may hold the key to a bumper payout when he saddles the 13 saddlecloth Siraaj, who also happens to be drawn 13. The second race is run at 13h40.
Siraaj ran just over 13 lengths back on his debut and based on his rather bland formline, the chances are that he will also pay R13 for a tote place in the first leg of the Place Accumulator!
The fear of Friday the 13th is related to the fear of the number 13 and appears to be rooted in pre-Christian religious traditions, when the Norse god Loki invited himself to the Banquet of Valhalla, becoming the 13th guest. His mischief caused the death of Baldr, a favourite of the gods.
Early Christian traditions also highlight 13 as an unlucky number
Friday itself is also considered an unlucky day. In many pre-Christian sects, Friday was the Sabbath. Those who spent the day involved in their own matters did not properly honour the gods.
In return, they could not expect the gods to bless their projects. Early Christians noted the day as the “Witches Sabbath,” differentiating their own day of worship from that of the pagans.
Since both Friday and the number 13 are considered unlucky, it holds that the conjunction of the two is particularly unlucky. Some claim that this connection was solidified when the Knights Templar were arrested on Friday, Oct. 13, 1307.
However lucky the number 8 may be to Chinese gamblers, it is widely accepted that the number 13 is very much to be avoided.
It is so ingrained in our global consciousness that it is a recognised medical condition that goes by the name Triskaidekaphobia.
Some other popular hints at improving your luck, include:
Knocking on Wood
One of the indisputably well-known and internationally applied superstitions is the act of knocking on wood. It goes beyond the sphere of gambling and the casino and is applied by a large majority of the population to ward off bad luck. So where does this particular superstition stem from. It is quite literally rooted in roots. Tree roots to be specific.
As with many of the other rituals and superstitions that we review in this double article, its origins are based in a pagan belief that trees possess spirits. By touching a tree, it was believed that you acknowledged its divine power which would protect you from bad luck. As with many pagan rites, the Catholic Church adopted and adapted it by claiming that by knocking on wood you pay homage to Jesus Christ who died on a wooden cross.
Lucky Rabbit’s Foot
It is generally believed that it was brought to the US from Africa where the rabbit was regarded by many tribes as being a symbol of fertility and fortune. Therefore, so the logic goes, by carrying a rabbit’s limb around with you it is meant to transmit these qualities to you.
Crossing your Fingers
The true origin of this superstition is lost in the mists of time but is generally attributed to our fears of witches. Back in the Middle Ages it was believed that we could ward off witches by making the sign of the cross.
Spilling Salt
The origin of this particular superstition goes back to Roman times when salt was a valuable commodity often used to pay the soldiers of the Empire.
It was therefore considered unlucky to spill as you would anger the spirits of fortune and good will.
The only remedy to this was to throw a pinch of salt over your left shoulder with your right hand.
Blowing on Dice
The most interesting possibility goes back to the early days of gambling when gamblers would try to cheat by coating one side of the dice with a sticky substance that would become active when blown on. Other historians believe that this superstition originates from earlier street games and was simply a method for cleaning the dice before throwing them.
Break a leg!
