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Originally Posted by ShadowRoll
I don't really want to start another thread bemoaning racing's sad state of affairs in terms of fan decline, but here you go: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/loc...l-sports-horse
It's no surprise that slots aren't the panacea that some people anticipated.
Yesterday, when I was at the track, I was holding a live pick 4 ticket and waiting for the last leg of the sequence. I had three horses in the last race, and the ticket in my hand included a 22 to 1 winner from the second leg. It was a beautiful day and I was outside, standing in the sun. At that moment, I felt like there wasn't anywhere else in the world that I'd rather be. It wasn't just the possible money. It was the satisfaction of making at least some sense of all the numbers and information. It was the palpable awareness that came over me at that moment of the drama and tradition that imparts that feeling of timelessness on almost every racetrack to which I've ever been. It was the recognition that I still get a thrill every time I see the desperate struggle reflected in the flattened ears and big, big eyes of two horses vying at the line. I almost laughed out loud for the utter joy of it. If only there was some way to bottle this feeling. Then I'd know that this game would never die. |
Thanks for the read.
Sadly, I've seen the same thing at Finger Lakes. Downstairs (where the slots are, off the bar) was packed. Nice races were going on outside in the beautiful sunshine. Very few were involved in the wonder and glory of it all.
My guess is that when "slot players" and "horse players" got lumped together as "gamblers", and those that saw there was money to be made from them without distinction, it caused something to be lost at the other's gain.
To me, I'd rather feed carrots and windows than one arms.