Favorite Opening Day?
 

I thought this would be a fun topic...what is your favorite opening day(weekend)?

Saratoga for me! :)

The only people who don't say Saratoga will be the ones who haven't been there.

:tro:

"Opening Game" at Cincinnati, when it was always the first baseball game of any season, used to be really special. But MLB screwed it up.

Oaklawn Baby, Can't beat those 50 cent corned beef samies...:eek:

Belmont Spring Meet. After 6 months at the Big A, the weather is getting nice and the derby is usually a week away.

Fair Grounds. When it opens on Thanksgiving.

It's not really an opening day.......but, the Thursday & Friday opening rounds of March Madness.

Kentucky Downs, All Turf

Which is why it's Arlington every year for me.

Definitely Saratoga, but there are some other really good ones- Keeneland Spring opening weekend is ridiculously crazy and a much needed start to the spring- Kentucky blows in the winter; never been to it, but Santa Anita Dec 26th fits well with the holiday schedule; and Monmouth opening day starts off the Shore summer.

Opening day on the inner track because I realize the single best handicapper in the world is about to make me money..

Worst opening day....Saratoga because the shadows get longer and the races get shorter

Santa Anita, day after christmas,

Grade one race on opening day!

Hands down this coming Saturday. Opening day at Tampa will always be heads and shoulders above everything else to me, and yes I have been to opening day at Saratoga. I know the quality of horses isn't the greatest and the jockey colony is less than stellar, but the place is simply magical for me and has been for quite a few years now.

What can I say, I'm loyal to a fault.

Keeneland Spring :{>:

It was not opening day

I will never forget seeing Saratoga this past August for the first time

Del Mar!! Nothing like gazing at cougars.....and race horses.

santa anita, emerald downs and Portland Meadows

The Keeneland fall opening weekend. The weather is usually nice compared to the spring meet. All of the graded breeders cup prep races are run opening weekend.

Never apologize for a true and honest loyal love of one's heart Kev. The place is Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May to you even it's the second Saturday in December. Smell a rose, kiss the baby and enjoy the day for all it offers......

Hannukah.

Carolina Cup.

Though I believe that's technically the only day.


The only horse racing event I've attended where the consistent beauty of the lady attendees easily outdistances the ladies of Del Mar.

It's my Christmas.

love opening weekend of the fall keeneland meet. plus every four years the TIDE Rolls in and beats uk.:D

opening day is on friday, but the specials will be saturday. just looked at the calendar. monday the 18th, rachel bobbleheads with paid admission.

i plan to go up on that saturday.

Just checked. I'm going to miss opening weekend this year, but should be there on the 22nd and 23rd.

Also saw that Doocy got hurt.

yeah, that was pretty bad-both horses died immediately. just awful. the outrider i guess is ok, he was chasing a loose horse when they collided.

The Spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! A few years back the betting terminals were down for the first race or two, I thought there was going to be a riot. Then I watched my Tri roll home. Now I go on Sanford day to open the meet. Not sure what to do next year with the reschedule.

;)
:tro:

They hold a breakfast adjacent to the paddock on opening day morning. Usually a trainer and a jockey talk for a few minutes then it is open for Q & A. When they are done, Margo goes through the card offering her ideas on wagering strategies for the day. All of this taking place directly behind the horses working out.
For me, it signals the start of an exhilarating, exciting, wonderful 5 months.
It is something not to be missed, sadly they barely get more than 100 folks attending (they do a horrific job of promoting this).
If you plan on going, I'd highly suggest it - you get a handicapping guide along with a program included with breakfast for like 6 bucks. Plus you won't have to deal with the traffic which is sure to be a nightmare as there are new roads and traffic patterns getting in this year.

http://www.tampabaydowns.com/Racing/...59&ModuleId=92

Training camp for the NFL...

well lately opening day for Baseball Playoffs ;)

But no seriously, Saratoga.

Having been at Saratoga's opening day last year I don't think anything could top it.

NT

Baseball. Then Toga.

Santa Anita, walking into the track with the gorgeous snow capped San Gabriel mountains, the nice calendar, the hand carved roast beef sandwiches and the Grade 1 Malibu, all while enjoying the company of my friends! The most beautiful track around!

Its one of few tracks in the country thats not located out in BFE or in the Ghetto. Arcadia is one classy place.

All this AND you may get the chance to sit with Exacta Bob. That alone is almost like going clubbing with Tiger Woods.

New traffic patterns? Crap I just learned the old ones.

phoot-be-all....by a mile

Wow, that sounds like a great "day after Christmas" plan.

I've gotta put that on the possible "to do" list for the holiday break.

Oh man you owe it to yourself, you won't be sorry!! There is no more beautiful setting in my opinion, just gorgeous.