Race tracks that are gone

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by jballscalls

I still drive by old Longacres whenever I go home and miss it terribly. My whole childhood was spent there. The beautiful tall poplar trees that lined the turns are still there on one side.

Boeing bought it and literally left the land barren and used only a tiny area by the 3/8ths pole and built a building.

If you go there and walk around, under some bushes you'll notice a part of the rail is still there as well as some of the brick flooring.

The last day was a night event and it was very sad. They let everyone out onto the track afterwards to go grab souvenir dirt. The last race, Gary Henson the announcer let run silent, only saying at the 7/8ths pole. "Ladies and Gentlemen, these horses belong to you. Listen to their final thunder"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_TpIkZ9C4M

Originally Posted by Easy Goer Otis

1989. Chicago. South Loop. Working at Coopers & Lybrand right out of Notre Dame.

The OTB on Jackson Street had three levels. First level was for the action-addicted traders who worked in the nearby commodity pits. Designed for quick hitter, one race bets while they ducked out for a smoke.

Second floor was for the hardcore grinders. A weathered looking group that was not looking for new friends.

The third floor was what I miss. The Derby Club. Had to have a suit coat to get in and pay $99 for membership. But once in, you might sit down at the oak bar with a local celeb (Gene Siskel was the best). Big leather booths and TVs.

Heady stuff for a 22yo kid. Not sure when it closed down, but I miss its "rat packy" vibe. Fell on love with the sport during the a Sunday Silence-Easy Goer season.

Cheers,

Otis

Thank you, gentlemen, for your fine answers. This is what I was looking for.

Originally Posted by Cardus

You are consumed by loss.

It's all a ploy to get you to talk to me.

[MinnSkinny]

My first trip to Aksarben in Omaha, must have been 1972. Took a funeral home limo with 8 or 10 other guys, and we had a lock in the second race. Forgot the dress code so we went to Goodwill for sport coats and khakis. Wheeled the first race over the lock in the second and the DD paid $81. Drank so much beer while there we had to stop and piss on a gravel road in the middle of nowhere coming home.
I think Aksarben closed in the 90's.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Cardus

We assumed it was gravel, or was otherwise unpaved.

I think you are a man of many talents but public urination expert was never one I considered.

Senator L... that was a fantastic story! So glad you posted and thanks, Aly-Sheba, for your special HP memory.

[Bigsmc]

I get a little misty eyed when I drive by the Home Depot on Westshore Drive as I recall $0.25 beer nights at the Tampa Jai Alai Fronton.

I'm sure the players HATED those nights as the heckling was fueled by whatever flat, warm swill was being poured into the Solo cups.

[ne to socal]

My old man had a modest string of cheap standardbreds in New England back in the late 60s early 70s, usually at Rockingham Park. He was no stranger to the windows too, both for the trotters and the TBs.

We lived just over the border in Massachusetts, and oftentimes as a young one he'd take me along for the 5(?) mile ride north along Route 28. If I was lucky, we'd stop at Granite State potato chip factory and get a bucket of chips right outta the vat. If it was summer time we'd detour to one of the truck farms near the track and pick up a couple dozen ears of sweet corn for dinner. And if I was really lucky we'd go in the barn gate right off route 28 (and not the gen'l admission gate...that meant he was just getting a bet in) because that meant we were going to his barn and I could be with his horses. The mere smell of molasses is enough to bring it all back to me.

A few times he'd hoist me up on his lap in the jog cart and take a few lazy loops around the oval with one of his horses and man...that was better than anything to a 6 or 7 year old kid. Dad was better than Carl Yasztremski at that point. Well...up until the one time one of my feet slipped and got jammed in the wheel and tore the skin off my ankle. Didn't want to be dad explaining to mom that night.

[Heels1989]

Roosevelt Raceway though for reasons besides the racing. Oct 1982 I was a soph in high school. The brother of my girlfriend at the time scored 2 tickets to see The Who at Shea Stadium, their original farewell tour.

A few problems: 1. The show was a mid week school night. 2. Long drive from the Albany area on a school nite and 3. I was on crutches recovering from knee surgery.

Since The Who was/is one of my favorite bands and this seemed like a once in a life opportunity (note, I have seen them at least a half dozen times since), we worked out a deal with my dad. He would drive us down and back same day/nite but I had to agree to go to school the next day. Ah, Deal

How does Roosevelt work into this story? Well, while we were at the show, my dad and one of my HS teachers who joined us on the trip, headed over to Roosevelt. Had Roosevelt not been running live that nite I probably would have missed out on seeing a great show.

Thanks dad!!!

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

I get a little misty eyed when I drive by the Home Depot on Westshore Drive as I recall $0.25 beer nights at the Tampa Jai Alai Fronton.

I'm sure the players HATED those nights as the heckling was fueled by whatever flat, warm swill was being poured into the Solo cups.

Originally Posted by Heels1989

Roosevelt Raceway though for reasons besides the racing. Oct 1982 I was a soph in high school. The brother of my girlfriend at the time scored 2 tickets to see The Who at Shea Stadium, their original farewell tour.

A few problems: 1. The show was a mid week school night. 2. Long drive from the Albany area on a school nite and 3. I was on crutches recovering from knee surgery.

Since The Who was/is one of my favorite bands and this seemed like a once in a life opportunity (note, I have seen them at least a half dozen times since), we worked out a deal with my dad. He would drive us down and back same day/nite but I had to agree to go to school the next day. Ah, Deal

How does Roosevelt work into this story? Well, while we were at the show, my dad and one of my HS teachers who joined us on the trip, headed over to Roosevelt. Had Roosevelt not been running live that nite I probably would have missed out on seeing a great show.

Thanks dad!!!

Fun story!

Originally Posted by ne to socal

My old man had a modest string of cheap standardbreds in New England back in the late 60s early 70s, usually at Rockingham Park. He was no stranger to the windows too, both for the trotters and the TBs.

We lived just over the border in Massachusetts, and oftentimes as a young one he'd take me along for the 5(?) mile ride north along Route 28. If I was lucky, we'd stop at Granite State potato chip factory and get a bucket of chips right outta the vat. If it was summer time we'd detour to one of the truck farms near the track and pick up a couple dozen ears of sweet corn for dinner. And if I was really lucky we'd go in the barn gate right off route 28 (and not the gen'l admission gate...that meant he was just getting a bet in) because that meant we were going to his barn and I could be with his horses. The mere smell of molasses is enough to bring it all back to me.

A few times he'd hoist me up on his lap in the jog cart and take a few lazy loops around the oval with one of his horses and man...that was better than anything to a 6 or 7 year old kid. Dad was better than Carl Yasztremski at that point. Well...up until the one time one of my feet slipped and got jammed in the wheel and tore the skin off my ankle. Didn't want to be dad explaining to mom that night.

Loved this one.

Originally Posted by Cardus

The sarcasm eluded you.

Better luck next time.

Thank you, I appreciate that! It's my dream for the future... to be smart enough to get your jokes so thank you for the well wishes.

[geeker2]

MMSC you must have been to the old Del Mar track! Remember all the nooks and crannies that were in the Clubhouse and that carpet (and the smell) oh my...it sure had character.

MMSC

Great thread.

Sure I'm missing some. Here are the tracks I've been to that are now gone.

The one's in CAPS are where I called a race. Two of which was the final race ever run.

AK-SAR-BEN, BLUE RIBBON DOWNS, Birmingham Race Course, Bowie, CALIENTE, DETROIT RACE COURSE, FAIRPLEX, GARDEN STATE PARK, HOLLYWOOD PARK, Longacres, Playfair, Sportsman's Park, Suffolk Downs, Rockingham Park, THE WOODLANDS, VALLEJO, YAKIMA MEADOWS, Yavapai (Prescott then).

HOLLYWOOD PARK: Obviously tugs the most heartstrings. Not a day goes by I don't think of HP. Heart remains and perhaps will always be broken. Cannot believe a place like Hollywood actually closed. Rapidly closing in on the anniversary of the final race and my final race call. Dec. 22nd.

AK-SAR-BEN: Much different than Hollywood. Called final race there too. Didn't know at the time that was it. Great memories of racing at AK. A major attraction in it's heyday. Busses from many cities would roll in. Kansas City, Grand Island, Des Moines. Much like Oaklawn to this day the town really embraced the track. Walk into anyplace with 5 miles of the track and everyone was talking horses.

CALIENTE: Called my first live race there. Filled in for Ernie Meyers. As a San Diego kid, along with Del Mar in the summers, where I fell in love with our great sport. Used to go with the great Don Alexander aka The Golden Throat. We'd sit in the back row of the grandstand and practice. Caliente and Ak-Sar-Ben stories are separate threads on their own.

DETROIT RACE COURSE: First full time job. Was fired after 3 years for being young, stupid and arrogant. At least I'm no longer young. Called 3 running's of the Michigan Mile. Badwagon Harry, De Jeau and Waquoit. DRC stories may be 2 threads.

GARDEN STATE PARK: The back-up to main announcer Ralph Siraco for 6 weeks in 1985. That was the year when Spend A Buck skipped the Preakness for a shot at a $2 million bonus by winning the Jersey Derby. I came within a few seconds of calling that race live on ESPN. New facility, wires crossed. Thank God they fixed it as the field entered the gate and we heard the great Dave Johnson. Laffit Pincay Jr. rode Spend A Buck not Cordero who was aboard in the Derby. Laffit's winning ride still ranks as the greatest I've ever seen.

BLUE RIBBON DOWNS: End of the earth town called Salisaw OK. Didn't stay long. Took over for a fill in guy they didn't think was ready. When I left they brought the fill in back and gave him the permanent job. That young announcer? LUKE K.!! (rip). He WAS ready.

YAKIMA MEADOWS: Went for a full season that ended up only being one weekend. Hialeah called. Worked for a great gentleman named Billy Aliment. Excellent golfer. Played for a while on the PGA Senior Tour.

THE WOODLANDS: Came in a couple weeks after the opening. They started meet with the Director of Marketing trying to also call the races. Proved too much so in I came. That marketing man? Former President of Hollywood Park and current Executive Director of the CHRB Rick Baedeker. That racetrack proved to be a fertile breeding ground for people that would go on to do great things in our industry. Along with Baedeker. Martin Panza, Lonny Powell, Bruce Rimbo, Rick Henson, Nancy Ury. Track was founded by R D Hubbard.

FAIRPLEX: Was known as Pomona back then. Never called a TB race there. Ralph Siraco was calling a harness meet there and let me try a couple.

VALLEJO: Called many seasons there as part of the Northern California Fair circuit.

Happy Holiday's to all DT'ers.

Cheers.

Goof

[my miss storm cat]

That was an extraordinary post, Vic... thanks so much for always being so giving with your memories.

... and thanks for calling my very first time at the races. The 2004 Hollywood Derby will always be special and you're a big part of that.

I started this thread cause I was thinking of HP and how there are times when I still can't believe it's gone. Cannot imagine how you feel.

I hope you and your family have beautiful holidays and that we will be hearing you once again next year.

Originally Posted by geeker2

MMSC you must have been to the old Del Mar track! Remember all the nooks and crannies that were in the Clubhouse and that carpet (and the smell) oh my...it sure had character.

Not sure when you mean... Just looked and figured out my first time going to Del Mar was 2005 (as it was to see Go Bye Bye who I loved and who finished 2nd). Was the old clubhouse earlier then that, Geekie?

[ScottJ]

Add to this list of closed racetracks Tioga Park (www.tiogapark.net) from 1976-1978 long before Jeff Gural purchased the property to open his harness racino. Tioga for those who did not know raced quarter horses and the tribute web site is certainly worth the visit.

Also, as I posted this morning on the site, Atlantic City Race Course will permanently close on Friday, January 16th, 2015 closing the door on that storied facility.

[MinnSkinny]

Originally Posted by Cardus

We assumed it was gravel, or was otherwise unpaved.

Your humor and your sarcasm are both pretty special.
You must be pretty special too.....

[senator L]

In the late 80's early 90's I worked across Woodbine Racetrack at a restaurant called JJ Muggs. Lots of people from the track drank and ate there, they were
known as "trackies" One guy I worked with was well versed in handicapping and after lunch we would walk across and try and make them into bigger tips.
He could answer any question I could throw at him and taught me how to read the DRF and how to handicap a race. He was surprised at how many horses I knew about because I use to love watching Wide World of sports and their coverage of horse racing. One night he says I got a horse that "can't lose" it is running at Greenwood. Where is Greenwood I ask. It is right on Lake Ontario just east of downtown and it was the original "Woodbine". A much smaller track
7/8's and now they just ran when Woodbine shut its doors for the winter. Having now been at Woodbine numerous times, I had an idea of what it would be like - how wrong could I be. I remember seeing a giant tree in the infield
but there were no leaves. It was a lot smaller than Woodbine and there seemed to be way more people and lots of drunk people too. And the smoke! You could have cut it with a chain-saw and I smoked myself. No one really sat unless you went outside. So my friend is still talking about this sprinter Senator L, that can't lose. He was ml fav at 6-5 so I understood that he was good, I think he ended up finishing 3rd at 1-2. Buddy, says how much did you lose? Everything I said. What do you mean - everything? I said everything, my paycheck, you said he wouldn't lose. WHAT, you bet your paycheck? I didn't tell you to be your paycheck, I can't pay that back, you don't bet your check on a 1-2 shot. So that was my introduction to Greenwood racetrack, downtown and right on the lake. My favorite track.
More "real" people there than anyplace in the world. It closed a few years later and became a housing development. They kept a large otb there but that too is now shrinking.

[Aly-Sheba]

I remember going to Hollywood Park back in 1977 when Seattle Slew came out after winning the Triple Crown. The place was packed and while it wasn't Seattle Slew's day, however it was J.O. Tobin's day with Shoemaker up. As the horses were coming down the stretch the crowd was going nuts and yelling Shoe Shoe Shoe the whole stretch drive. It was electrifying. Days like that along with the First Breeders Cup and watching Niatross destroying his fields in world record times at the night harness racing they had there were a few of the special memories I have.