Quote:
Originally Posted by GoIrish
... 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  . |
Best to Last:
1.) Keeneland
If your after the whole horse racing experience than it can't be beat. The place is just about perfect. The backdrop of the track is beautiful Kentucky landscape. The trees are spectacular all around the grounds. Paddock is one of a kind.
2.) Del Mar - is a close second. Tempted to make them 1A and 1B but Keeneland trumps on overall beauty. The one thing that put me off a little about Del Mar is the ugly gray artificial racing surface. It is truly ugly.
3.) Santa Anita - I think the only thing that really separates the first two from Santa Anita is the scarcity of racing dates. It takes some planning to hit Keeneland and Del Mar. Santa Anita has many more dates.
Santa Anita is a beautiful park in a spectacular setting. I love the way the downhill turf track crosses the main surface and then goes back to the turf. This is a one of a kind feature at a track in the US.
4.) Oaklawn is a distant, distant, distant fourth. Didn't like the glass walls that enclose the grandstand area. Just not for me I guess.
Sidenote. I met an Australian at the most beautiful track I've ever been to in Chantilly, France. As we chatted I learned that this guy had traveled to tracks all around the world. So as we are standing in this magnficent setting with a castle in the background. I asked what track he liked best of all he had visited. His Answer: Keeneland