Day at the Races

pweizer · #1 12-18-2011, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helicopter11

people still go the track to bet horses? I use to go to SHRP all the time but with the convinience of online betting, TVG and HRTV I havent been there in years and most likely never go again.

You are really missing out.

Paul

Bigsmc · #2 12-18-2011, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helicopter11

people still go the track to bet horses? I use to go to SHRP all the time but with the convinience of online betting, TVG and HRTV I havent been there in years and most likely never go again.

You are really missing out. Convenience is not nearly as enjoyable for me. Nothing beats a day at the track. Nothing (in sports, that is).

Quote:

Originally Posted by pweizer

You are really missing out.

Paul

#3 12-18-2011, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pweizer

You are really missing out.

Paul

I have attended races live many times and I really dont care for it but that is just me. Big days are even worse especially when you cant see the screen, people who dont know how to use the self betting machines and those that decide to handicap a race while in line. Not to mention overpriced food, drinks (cold hot dog and warm beer for 9 bucks).

With the price of admission, parking, racing form and premium seats, I am already down before I make my first bet.

pweizer · #4 12-18-2011, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helicopter11

I have attended races live many times and I really dont care for it but that is just me. Big days are even worse especially when you cant see the screen, people who dont know how to use the self betting machines and those that decide to handicap a race while in line. Not to mention overpriced food, drinks (cold hot dog and warm beer for 9 bucks).

With the price of admission, parking, racing form and premium seats, I am already down before I make my first bet.

I am not sure where you were going but do yourself a favor. Just once, go to Saratoga or Keeneland or Santa Anita or Del Mar. Go to the paddock. Watch the horses live (not on a screen). Even on a weekday, it is an amazing experience.

Paul

#5 12-18-2011, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pweizer

I am not sure where you were going but do yourself a favor. Just once, go to Saratoga or Keeneland or Santa Anita or Del Mar. Go to the paddock. Watch the horses live (not on a screen). Even on a weekday, it is an amazing experience.

Paul

I have been to Santa Anita and Del Mar a few times and walked through the paddock. I agree its great to see the horses live. I would love to visit Saratoga and Keeneland but as far as regular visits to the track to wager regularly...I will not do it. The convienience of online wagering won me over.

freddymo · #6 12-19-2011, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pweizer

I am not sure where you were going but do yourself a favor. Just once, go to Saratoga or Keeneland or Santa Anita or Del Mar. Go to the paddock. Watch the horses live (not on a screen). Even on a weekday, it is an amazing experience.

Paul

Paul I suggest you head out to Portland Meadows or Fonner Park, maybe the state fair at Syracuse to watch some Standard bred racing. maybe PID with all 800 fans its special stuff or hawthorne in the dead of winter..

Paul I love the track but have a heart. Whats so special about see Scott Stevens riding a busted 3k claimer at Turf paradise.. remember they dont call it Paradise for nothing

GoIrish · #7 12-19-2011, 03:30 PM

Paddock.
Bet.
Upstairs grandstand; watch race thru binos.
Curse.
Repeat.

pweizer · #8 12-19-2011, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freddymo

Paul I suggest you head out to Portland Meadows or Fonner Park, maybe the state fair at Syracuse to watch some Standard bred racing. maybe PID with all 800 fans its special stuff or hawthorne in the dead of winter..

Paul I love the track but have a heart. Whats so special about see Scott Stevens riding a busted 3k claimer at Turf paradise.. remember they dont call it Paradise for nothing

Certainly not all tracks are created equal. But I was at Philly Park (I refuse to call it Parx) two weeks ago. Suffolk Downs is my home track. Yet, I still enjoyed the beauty and excitement of watching live horses.

I bet from home all the time and I get the convenience side of the equation. But, to me, being there live is still something special every time.

Paul

freddymo · #9 12-19-2011, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pweizer

Certainly not all tracks are created equal. But I was at Philly Park (I refuse to call it Parx) two weeks ago. Suffolk Downs is my home track. Yet, I still enjoyed the beauty and excitement of watching live horses.

I bet from home all the time and I get the convenience side of the equation. But, to me, being there live is still something special every time.

Paul

I guess..I do not know about how nice Philly is in fact its basically become a poker joint. Is Suffolk still opened and why?

Kasept · #10 12-19-2011, 04:00 PM

[/size]

Quote:

Originally Posted by freddymo

I guess..I do not know about how nice Philly is in fact its basically become a poker joint. Is Suffolk still opened and why?

Freddy's racetrack ritual!

#11 12-19-2011, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pweizer

Certainly not all tracks are created equal. But I was at Philly Park (I refuse to call it Parx) two weeks ago. Suffolk Downs is my home track. Yet, I still enjoyed the beauty and excitement of watching live horses.

I bet from home all the time and I get the convenience side of the equation. But, to me, being there live is still something special every time.

Paul

I was at Suffolk Downs for a tourney in Oct 2010 and that place was a complete dump. I hated it so much that I made my picks early and went back to the hotel in Natick to watch it there on my laptop.

pweizer · #12 12-19-2011, 05:35 PM

This is exactly my point. Even at tracks that are a dump, the thrill of seeing live horses run is a different level of excitement that you can get watching at home.

If all one cares about is betting, I suppose it doesn't matter. I bet a lot. But I got hooked on the sport because I love the thrill and beauty of seeing the sport live.

Paul

santana · #13 12-19-2011, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helicopter11

I have attended races live many times and I really dont care for it but that is just me. Big days are even worse especially when you cant see the screen, people who dont know how to use the self betting machines and those that decide to handicap a race while in line. Not to mention overpriced food, drinks (cold hot dog and warm beer for 9 bucks).

With the price of admission, parking, racing form and premium seats, I am already down before I make my first bet.

I am right with you coptor man....Also a veteran of SHRP for many years, i would rather stay right here and bet from home.
Also went to Belmont Aquesduct and all the tracks alot of time over the years.......If i lived a couple of blocks away, that might be another story....But 30 minutes each way is a bit much, when betting almost everyday....

#14 12-19-2011, 09:21 AM

I haven't been to the track since late June. I believe it was the last Friday night for Churchill...or the one before last. Who knows. There were some uh...ladies of questionable morality there.

So a typical night in Louisville.

3kings · #15 12-19-2011, 10:41 AM

The closest thouroughbred track to me is Mountaineer. I would rather play from home than attend except for a few big race days. My opinion is completely different when it comes to other tracks like Saratoga, Arlington or even smaller tracks like Tampa, I go out of my way to visit if I'm in the area.

jrajf · #16 12-19-2011, 12:38 PM

I love going to the end of the Saratoga Grandstand. I ask for seats in a section that is near empty and ask for an isolated seat and if that isnt the case I buy three seats for the room.

Watching the turn into the stretch is an adreneline boost and with the recent bigscreen tvs you can pick up the rest of stretch run quite well.

I bet through my phone so no lines. The bathrooms are right there and if desired you can bring a small cooler with you.

Paradise

Rudeboyelvis · #17 12-19-2011, 01:10 PM

Some tracks do a great job of enhancing the on track experience, while other are still lost in the 80's and couldn't care less who shows up - if you're near one of the latter, then I would probably be echoing Helo's sentiment.

For example, I've had a blast at Arlington Park when visiting Chicago - beautiful facility, tons of fans, lots going on, etc. but something tells me (totally speculating based on what I've heard - I've never been there) that experience at Hawthorne in February might not exactly translate.

hoovesupsideyourhead · #18 12-19-2011, 03:28 PM

the v.i.p table at byks bbq toga..you never know who will be sitting there

pmayjr · #19 12-19-2011, 06:58 PM

As my location states-

"Canterbury Park, 3rd floor clubhouse (just south of Minneapolis, MN)". I have Comcast cable that doesn't carry TVG... and honestly, with Canterbury being about a 15-20 minute drive for me, that's enough of an enabler. I'll eventually succomb and start betting online, but I'm good for right now.

Not a bad place for people watching during live racing in the summer, but the quality of racing here sucks.

GPK · #20 12-18-2011, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cardus

I've never had a warm beer at the racetrack.

That seems like a throwaway line.

You've never been to Saratoga Harness then.