Taking your kids to the track

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by moses

Does anyone have advice for taking your kids to the race track?

I have two daughters, both under 3 years old, and I’d like to take them to the racetrack at some point. I’m just not sure when. It’s somethng that I always look back on as good memories with my own dad and both of my grandfathers. I’d love for it to be something that I can share with them.

What is a good age to take your kids to the track for the first time? And what is a good track to do it at? I’m in New Jersey and can pretty easily get to Parx, Delaware Park, and Monmouth Park. Parx is the closest but my initial inclination is to take them somewhere nicer than that.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

I used to take my sons to the track before they could talk. I'd tell my wife I was taking him to the Park, I really wasnt lying because we would go to Monmouth Park. Once they could talk, they would rat me out. It depends what you are trying to get out of it. But usually at the end of the day it was frustrating cause the kids would get tired and or bored and I would miss something while trying to handicap on the fly. Now God is punishing me cause both of them can't stand the thought of going and nothing would make me happier than to see them take a little interest in it and want to spend the day with their old man at the track.

[cal828]

I don't think I would take any little kids to the track. When they get older, if they get bored they can always play with their I-phones or I-pads which is pretty much what they do 24-7 anyway. My "kids," if you want to call them that are 43 and 45 years old. My son would go, if I asked him to, but he has no real interest in the sport and my daughter might go too, if I asked her, but the races to her are more of a social thing that she likes to do with her friends and not something that she really wants to learn something about. She is an OB/GYN and has a pretty grueling work schedule so can't blame her for wanting to just relax at the track and knock back a few glasses of wine with her women buddies.

[moses]

Originally Posted by cal828

I don't think I would take any little kids to the track. When they get older, if they get bored they can always play with their I-phones or I-pads which is pretty much what they do 24-7 anyway. My "kids," if you want to call them that are 43 and 45 years old. My son would go, if I asked him to, but he has no real interest in the sport and my daughter might go too, if I asked her, but the races to her are more of a social thing that she likes to do with her friends and not something that she really wants to learn something about. She is an OB/GYN and has a pretty grueling work schedule so can't blame her for wanting to just relax at the track and knock back a few glasses of wine with her women buddies.

Hmm. I may wait a while. Though I should say - my 2 year old knows how to use an iPhone and tablet already. It’s both amazing and frightening to see her play on them.

[ninetoone]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

I used to take my sons to the track before they could talk. I'd tell my wife I was taking him to the Park, I really wasnt lying because we would go to Monmouth Park. Once they could talk, they would rat me out. It depends what you are trying to get out of it. But usually at the end of the day it was frustrating cause the kids would get tired and or bored and I would miss something while trying to handicap on the fly. Now God is punishing me cause both of them can't stand the thought of going and nothing would make me happier than to see them take a little interest in it and want to spend the day with their old man at the track.

"I'm taking them to the park"...hilarious!

[moses]

Originally Posted by ninetoone

"I'm taking them to the park"...hilarious!

Originally Posted by MaTH716

I used to take my sons to the track before they could talk. I'd tell my wife I was taking him to the Park, I really wasnt lying because we would go to Monmouth Park. Once they could talk, they would rat me out. It depends what you are trying to get out of it. But usually at the end of the day it was frustrating cause the kids would get tired and or bored and I would miss something while trying to handicap on the fly. Now God is punishing me cause both of them can't stand the thought of going and nothing would make me happier than to see them take a little interest in it and want to spend the day with their old man at the track.

“Going to the park.” That really is classic.

I’m thinking I’ll get all my selections figured out the morning of, make all my bets early on and not do any “on the fly” handicapping. Easier said than done though.