Going back to the original question:

It is clearly a hobby for me.

But the animals are fantastic athletes and I think that is what many people miss by not going to the track, and or watching them work. I love the way the animals run. All this breeding stuff is interesting, but a huge side issue for me.

The gambling and the numbers allow the sport to take on a whole new life for me. It is also a study in people and habits. I love the numbers and the misuse of them. I love to watch people who have a thousand tickets in front of them after punching the machine to death. I love to listen to all the diff. folks talking about their stragtegies. The track itself is a very interesting place.