Of these 4 tracks I have never visited...
 

... please prioritize them for me. I'd like to plan a trip for next year to one of the following:

Oaklawn
Keeneland
Del Mar
Santa Anita

Which is most worthy to visit first (since it might be the only opportunity I get). Base your answers on the track and racing experience only. I already know it's hard to top San Diego as an overall destination :).

Jesus...

I have only not been to Oaklawn but I would probably say Keeneland as a horse racing fan and Del Mar as a people fan. Santa Anita at the BC was awesome the two years I did it but not sure how it is non BC.

1) Santa Anita
2) Keeneland
3) Del Mar
4) Oaklawn

There are no losers in this group and I've been to all except Del Mar, but if I had to prioritze it would go like this:

1) Keeneland---started the day in the track kitchen, then watching workouts. Took a brief ride around the surrounding farms before the races started and then watched Casablanca Smile take the Dowager. Overall fantastic experience. Pure horse country at its' finest.

2) Oaklawn Park---entire town revolves around the track. Saw the Arkansas Derby here many years ago. Super crowds and hospitality. Only negative is no grass racing.

3) Del Mar---on my list to get to. Looks gorgeous on TV and the crowd and climate just can't be overated.

4) Santa Anita---going to the BC this year but have been here a couple of times for regular racing. Nice place and scenery but would have to be 4th of this group in my opinion.

You can't lose with any choice you make............:tro:

The best part about Keeneland is the library.

A lot of nice looking and tastefully dressed college girls as well.

Not a fan of the food to the point where I would eat at the track kitchen instead of at the track.

I've never been compelled to visit Southern California or Arkansas.

Definitley agree with that............it was just more about the experience. Bobby Ussery was having breakfast just a couple of tables away.

If you ever wanted to experience what horse racing was like in heaven, why wait...go to Keeneland.

1. Keeneland
2. Del Mar
3. Santa Anita

Never been to Oaklawn.

I was way more interested in the library when I was there. It's worth the trip for that alone. Old DRF chart books are all over in there. Lots of great books and great material just in those cabinet things.

The racing atmosphere was obviously good and the ivy and all of that is a cool touch -- but there was a pretentious element to it. The applause after every single race as the horses come back, the fact that burgoo is served everywhere but a lot of logical foods that are found at other tracks aren't and the ones that are were rubbish. A lot of young and well-dressed people who are only there for the social aspects.

Keeneland is far and away the best live experience. Not even close.

Paul

I'm getting my ass to Keeneland very soon! Done most of the rest of the good ones.

I don't get the Keeneland hype... at all. Never have. It's beautiful and well done, but you better be there on a halfway warm, partly sunny day because if it's windy, dark, cold and rainy, it's miserable.

Of the 4 offered, Santa Anita to me is by far the most glorious with one of the most spectacular backdrop in sports. I'd put Keeneland behind it and Oaklawn ahead of Del Mar..

Been to Keeneland, Santa Anita and Delmar and never had the desire to go to Oaklawn. Keeneland seemed a bit "stuffy' to me and I agree with Steve, SA is striking when the smog does not engulf the mountains. Del Mar is Del Mar ...pretty women, nice view of the ocean while the races are running .....and pretty women. So may order is......Santa Anita
Del mar
Keeneland
Oaklawn

I read on another site you were moving to Cali to gamble for a living back in 2006 is this true?

Really? I have been to neither, but I can't recall anyone of your stature:rolleyes: saying that.

Go to any track where it is windy, dark, cold, and rainy...and you're lucky to get half the people Keeneland still draws.

And this is so normally nerdy for you,Cardvark.

This is why I would rate Oaklawn over Keeneland, followed by Del Mar. I've never been to Santa Anita.

People show up for the races at Oaklawn for the sake of the racing -- at Keeneland it's a little more about "being seen" and it is super crowded.

Well, there was no need for anything euphuistic. I find the place quaint and handsome but regularly uncomfortable by virtue of crowd or weather.

People line up daily at Pat's and Geno's... Does that mean they have the best steaks in Philadelphia?

Oaklawn can be pretty cold and miserable at the beginning of the season too. I think it was year before last that they closed the track on President's Day after about the 3rd race because the track was frozen. Not unusual at all to have snow or worse an ice storm around opening day. End of the season, just the opposite. Everything green, azaleas blooming, trees in the infield blooming (apple blossoms?). Definitely recommend visiting later in the race meet.

If they all had dirt surfaces, it would be a no brainer--Keeneland, by far, with Del Mar second. But I hate those frigging surfaces.

Santa Anita is very nice, so long as it is not 99 degrees and choked with smoke like BC 2003.

Oaklawn is nice as well, not up with the other 3 IMO.

The U of K girls at Keeneland--very nice if you are a dirty old man.

If you like to see, meet, and greet some HOT,smokin' hot women,both on and off the track, Del Mar is your place. Plenty of eye candy everywhere. Keeneland is a must also,especially on college day. I would recommend Keeneland in the fall over spring,as the wind and the temp are sometimes brutal.

Track and racing experience only, I would rank them:

1. Del Mar
2. Santa Anita
3. Keeneland
4. Oaklawn (have not visited, so I have no opinion)

I spent three days at Keeneland about 8 years ago and once you got past the beauty of the track and paddock area, I didn't get it. I couldn't wait to get out of there by day 3. Every day reminded me of the amateur hour your get at the Derby or BC. Betting lines were long and slow. Food and beverage lines were long and slow. These days, with the ability to wager on your phone, the betting lines would not be an issue, but I much preferred the on track experiences at the Cali tracks over Keeneland.

I know the thread starter did not want to consider the off track environments, but SD > LA > Lex. That does factor into my trip making decisions.

San Diego is only a short ride to Tijuana, isn't it?

Indian Charlie loved it so much in Southern California, that he moved to Maine for no reason at all but to escape it.

I don't think I could live there either, but it is fun to visit. Plenty of options.

Thank you all for your thoughts. Some very intereting information! I'm no closer to making a decision though. Leaning towards Keeneland... Wondering how I can pull that off with the better half, considering I insist on a Saratoga trip every year and I'm not giving that one up.

you-few-is-tik: some type of literary elegance. Thanks, Steve, for the word of the day.

Threaten to take her to West Virginia instead for a double-header at Mountaineer and Wheeling Downs.

Well, that's always the tricky part - keeping the missus happy. Since you are at a bit of an impasse, you may want to see what works for her (that is, if you planned on taking her with you).

Great responses from the board members and for me you really can't go wrong with any of the choices (though if it were Oaklawn, I'd wait to the end of the meet).

Also tell her that dinner will be at this 4-star establishment:




Lunch will consist of the following:




And no one goes to West Va without carrying a small concealed handgun.

Pretty much for the same reason as Steve. You can't beat the magnificent backdrop of the San Gabriel's, along with the tall palms in the infield and the unique 6 1/2 furlong grass chute. Just an awesome place to go racing.

In the case of Keeneland, I caught it on a beautiful fall day and had a fantastic experience. Tons of tradition and one of the nicest paddock's in the US. But not quite as picturesque as Santa Anita.

.......couldt agree more, born and raised in so. cal. i have always stated del mar is overrated.....i would rather go to H.P. as far as oaklawn, any track with no turf is minor leagues.

surface-wise, i'd say go to oaklawn. but, at days' end, the other three tracks have a lot more on offer than hot springs, ar can ever hope to have.
if you're looking for the best all-around experience, del mar and santa anita would probably be your best bets. i'd put oaklawn last. but it depends on what else you're looking for.
i've never had a bad time at oaklawn-it's after the racing is over that things get tricky!

if you do opt to ever visit oaklawn, i recommend fisherman's wharf for dinner after.

Jim's by open lengths.

Oh my God.

but you better be there on a halfway warm, partly sunny day because if it's windy, dark, cold and rainy, it's miserable.

Sounds like Aqueduct.

If she doesn't like horses and/or racing, than you've got to choose a location that has something for her. You get Saturday at the races she gets whatever day for what she wants to do. You both win.

If you do decide on Del Mar, I've got a great and very affordable (if that is a consideration) recommendation for a vacation condo in La Jolla.

1- DelMar
2_ Oaklawn
3-Santa Anita
4- Keenland
Been to all of them, and all i want to do if it is a 3 day trip is chill after the races and cap the next day card....and of course go to a good place to eat after the races.

Del mar has the beach in the AM before the races which is a BIG plus.
Oaklawn has early morning fishing if your into that.