he puts the 'fun' in funeral.

Even money shot wins the finale. The only thing missing for a perfect ending was the wrong jockey was on the chalk.






*..and here comes Russell!!! (to the roar of chalkplayers and the guys who pick up tickets from the floor and check them in the auto-tote's)*

Banner closing with an average win price of about 4 bucks.

I think, hope and trust the "developers" of the Bay Meadows property will take a severe arse kicking in the wallet.

I'm not certain that parcel is all that marketable of a commodity these days.

Did anyone catch the race calls on Sunday? Really cool how alot of the hisotric horses were running throughout the day...

I listened to them all. Michael Wrona was terrific! He has a knack for stepping up on big days.

Cigar's streak at Arlington.

Pincay passes Shoe.

Baze passes Pincay.

I totally understand why Bay Meadows is leaving us.

Doesn't make me hate it any less.

VJS

But what eventual number of tracks will be the right number for the sport in the long run?

To me 2008 is the new 1908. The sport under a sustained attack from those who want to destroy it. By 1908 there were only 25 tracks left in the US (down from a high point of 314 less than 20 years earlier)

Is this cycle of boom and bust what the future has in store for racing in the US?

More closures will mean that more fans are further than 100,200, 300 miles plus from their nearest racetrack.

Atlanta has held a recent Olympic Games, has teams in the major 4 professional sports but its citizens have to go nearly 400 miles to the nearest racecourse. Millions of Americans are completely disenfranchised from being able to follow racing and that number is set to rise.

I spent the past week at Bay Meadows, I was there every day they had live racing. I will miss several things about Bay Meadows but like many of you, I won't miss the five horse fields that pay short prices. What I will miss has nothing to do with betting, it has to do with the people and the horses. I have gotten to know trainers, exercise riders, the staff that work there and many of the fans. There are horses that I have been watching run for years now and I'm happy when they and their connections do well. Those of you that go to the bigger tracks might not understand that there is a true sense of family at these smaller tracks and the loss of our "family home" is what hurts. Yes, I understand that Bay Meadows being torn down is perhaps better for the sport of horse racing and will provide more housing in an area that doesn't have enough, but like Vic, I hate it - I absolutely hate it.

There are so many stories I could tell you about the people at Bay Meadows, folks that have spent a lifetime either working or watching races at the track. The local paper did a four part series on the place ( Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4) and another Bay Area paper did a great story on an employee who has been working the windows for 63 years (SF Chronicle) - the people at Bay Meadows are what made it great and that's why so many of us were sad to say goodbye to each other on Sunday. I'm not a horse racing fans just because I like to gamble, I am a fan because of this track - if it weren't for Bay Meadows I never would have fallen in love with this sport.


Vic - Shannon (your TVG camera operator) was sad she didn't get to have you around for the last weekend, she said it wasn't the same without you - you should have seen her tears :(

Georgia and South Carolina don't have any paramutuel betting of any kind legalized in state though, do they? That would be a pretty big barrier to racing in those states.

Vic - Shannon (your TVG camera operator) was sad she didn't get to have you around for the last weekend, she said it wasn't the same without you - you should have seen her tears

Doubt it.

Shannon did a good job.

I can be tough to work with at times.

Being a native of the Bay Area and a Horse Racing lover. It's sad to see Bay Meadows go. I have alot of fond memories of that track, grew up around that track before I moved. The track has it's share of A-holes and Scumbags, but it sure is comfortable. I wish that track they we're supposed to build in Dixon had gone through. I'll hate the town of Dixon forever for shooting down the plans. Anyways, is it just pretty much going to be GGF? with maybe Santa Rosa getting some more racing dates? That sorta sucks, although GGF has better racing than BM, IMO, I always liked BM more.

I'll miss BM, I'll miss the indoor paddock, the comfortable clubhouse, the path the jocks take from the jockeys room to the paddock. I'll miss alot of things about that track. I gotta get out to San Mateo one time before it closes for good, get out to the fair. Btw...West Cost Invader. How's it been buddy!!!?????