Time to find a better life. If this game in the flesh is that bad, you need a new outlet.

Drug users are depressing. Sad too.

:(

The track is awesome. I focus on 3 things at the track 1) the drf 2) the tv monitor where my race is running and 3) the concession stand. At the end of the day I couldnt even tell you if there was a male or female was sitting next to me.

I actually find the track rather relaxing, not depressing.

Except for Pimlico - that is one depressing track, even on Preakness day it is depressing.

No excuses....get on those overalls, put your hoe to work and give the filly a restin spot she deserves.

I have generally never found a track to be a depressing place, but I have only been to a select few.

Churchill has been great, and last time I was there I was up on the 6th Floor of Millionaires Row with a full buffet and all. I was down on the day as far as my bets, but the girlfriend and I had a good time.

Pimlico generally does suck, and if there is a depressing place it is Pimlico.

Belmont Park is my favorite place, and would go back any day. Was hoping to make it to Saratoga last fall, but those plans failed, so just waiting on that...

ALostTexan

ror!!




My WHAT!?

Too funny... Morty in some bibs. HAHAHA!!!

Better watch out..the Rev Al Sharpton might be watching with the hoe comment:eek: Right Don Imus?

I enjoy the track. I had a great time at Gulfstream. Great weather and the beach was only a walk away. The smaller grandstand makes it feel a little more cozy, but the big tracks, especially Belmont can be very depressing during the week.

It takes a lot to keep me from going to look at the horses, but the scene around the paddock (and the entire first floor) at Aqueduct is absolutely awful...very depressing.

No way is the track depressing especially Belmont...once I couldn't get to the window so I offered some guy my watch (little short on cash), he laughed, he wasn't depressed. This year I'll try the Spa, see if I can meet up with my new friend, hope he doesn't think I'm creepy, just having a fun day at the track!!!:D

Maybe he can buy a round of margaritas at Filiberto's!!!

Meet me over in the Imus thread on Social Issues and you'll see what I really think about that.

The key to enjoying Pimlico is making sure you close your eyes when you get to Northern Parkway - assuming you aren't driving, of course. And then don't open them until you reached the second floor grandstand seats that are outside. Great view of the track from there, and you catch a few rays while you are enjoying those $8k maidens and $7.5k nw's. Just don't go inside for anything......

I just add into the responses about live track vs. simulcast facility.

I live in New England and unless it's opening day, the Rock and Suffolk are beyond depressing.

But Saratoga I have never had that depressed. And my one trip to Churchill was unreal.

But some of those simulcast facilities/harness tracks...yikes.

3+ months until Saratoga. I'm looking out my window at snow for about the 5th day in a row. It was warmer Christmas day than Easter. NOT being at the track is depressing!

Some are some are not
 

As pointed out numerous times it depends....
Saratoga never has a depressing feel to it. I have not been to Keeneland in many years but i assume that like Saratoga is not depressing.

Del Mar is definitely not depressing. Beautiful track and location and always a good crowd, especially opening day when my head is constantly turning.....

Golden Gate Fields and Bay Meadows can definitely be depressing here in my area. I agree, for the most part would rather go there and see the horses workout in the morning and place my wagers at home.

PSH

simulcast is depressing.....a dirty morgue like atmospshere. the track outside on a nice sunny day isnt depressing at all

Forgive my friend E-Street
 

I was in Boston over the weekend and headed to suffolk downs for a few hours saturday to watch the racing and make a few bets.. that wasnt the happiest place ive ever been.. you see so many cross sections of society there, unreal..not too many woman though.. prob 95-98% men!!
Also so many people came up to me asking me for money..

If you want to see depressing, go visit the OTB on 2nd and 52nd or so on a random Friday as I did last week. Eesh...

Try the one up the block at 68th. Even worse.

This thread is depressing me...

My favorite NYC OTB for degeneracy is definitely John St. The legends of that joint spawned an off Broadway play, for God sakes!

No- there's the restaurant on John/Water (which is very nice)- the parlor on John by Broadway. Michael Imperioli wrote and directed a play called "Ponies" a while back.

I'm telling you... this joint is stuff of legends. I was a regular when I worked downtown.

I was at Keeneland for the very first time today. It was cold and rainy and so what. I may not have showed it but I was in complete awe of the whole experience. :D :D cheesing big time. Riot made the trip special with some very nice box seats. Thank you.

I've got friends at the OTB that make the trip worth while. I'm not really worried about losing my money. It's part of the game.

Casinos.. I think I swear I will never go again but then do because I have a friend that has a thing for Hold 'em and Blackjack
Just wins often enough to make him want to go back

Wingnut,
That's just it.
I've been to Keeneland the last 3 years... all the first weekend in December when it's chilly and ratty out. And it's stilll... JUST SO COOL! I gotta see that place in the fall or spring. Wow!

The second floor at Hawthorne is a notch up and the facilites are better than some other big names (Monmouth!). No compariosn to Arlington!

AMEN!!

The most beautiful, serene, relaxing, fun, non-depressing tracks:

Churchill, Keeneland, Arlington, Belmont, Saratoga, Monmouth, Del Mar, Santa Anita.

Aqueduct, Turfway, River Downs, Thistledown, and others of that ilk are alright in a pinch (better than nothing) but can be too sad to bear on anything but the biggest days.

How would you classify the Meadowlands?

NON depressing!!!!! :D

But there's no outdoor enjoyment in the sun. It's almost like going to the movies - dark, lots of food, look towards the light... very different than most racetrack-y type of experiences. I haven't been to any other night racing though.