Del Mar vs Saratoga

[Exceller]

Originally Posted by Gander

There really is no argument because the only thing that is cut and dry is the racing is better in Saratoga. That can not be argued. Del Mar's racing is a joke and not really a big upgrade (if any) from Hollywood Park.

Everything else is what you prefer personally and thats different things to different people. I have met people who claim Saratoga has the best restaurants and nightlife. To each their own.

Sorry but I love Saratoga but the restaurants and nightlife in San Diego put Saratoga to shame. San Diego is probably the nicest place in the US. Anyone who told you Saratoga has the better restaurants and nightlife has never been to Del Mar.

[Gander]

Been to San Diego about 4 times and loved every minute. Wont disagree at all regarding the restaurants as I am a huge mexican food fan and San Diego has some of the best I have ever had. Saratoga has okay restaurants but they charge far too much for what you get and the choices seem to be very limited. If you arent much in to food and willing to pay $28 for a average steak with frozen veges than you'll be fine.

I cant comment on the women as I am very happily married but folks, use your imagination! You ever see the show Baywatch? Thats what girls really do look like in Southern Cal!

[alysheba4]

as a so.cal native i put del mar behind santa anita and hollywood..... yeah we all know del mar has the hottest babes but who cares........ i go to the races to make money. if you want the best of both worlds go to vegas. vegas has the most beautiful woman by a country mile.

[Downthestretch55]

I've never been to Del Mar...hope to soon.
Saratoga has it all for me, best horses, nice ambiance.
Belmont in the fall is good too.
Just my opinion.
NY ladies are not to sneer about.
Seems to me, beauty is where you find it.
DTS

[Gander]

Even with the polytrack Kenneland's race meets crush the one Del Mar puts on. I cant stand short fields and 2/5 shots who you never know have enough "medication" to get the job done.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Saratoga and Keeneland are the top two tracks that I want to visit soon. I know I'll see Keeneland within the next year, and I will go out of my way to go see Saratoga.

[Pointg5]

Originally Posted by kentuckyrosesinmay

Saratoga and Keeneland are the top two tracks that I want to visit soon. I know I'll see Keeneland within the next year, and I will go out of my way to go see Saratoga.

Don't bother with Keeneland, unless you want to wear a face mask, that Poly Junk stinks, you should smell that garbage at Turfway, Keeneland is dead to me. Go straight to Saratoga and you'll be happier...

[Exceller]

Originally Posted by Gander

Been to San Diego about 4 times and loved every minute. Wont disagree at all regarding the restaurants as I am a huge mexican food fan and San Diego has some of the best I have ever had. Saratoga has okay restaurants but they charge far too much for what you get and the choices seem to be very limited. If you arent much in to food and willing to pay $28 for a average steak with frozen veges than you'll be fine.

I cant comment on the women as I am very happily married but folks, use your imagination! You ever see the show Baywatch? Thats what girls really do look like in Southern Cal!

The woman at Del Mar make up for the mediocre racing. I had huge expectations when I went and they were easily met. In horse racing terms, there are literally hundreds of Ruffians.

Keeneland was what got me started on being a track degenerate, but let me tell you it is not as good as DMR or SAR.

First of all Kee is soooo tiny that a sunny Saturday crowd of 30,000 has absolutely NO WHERE to go. You are shoulder-to-shoulder. The crowd is 90% frat & sorority peeps who are staggering around bleary-eyed and taking up space and getting in the way of the betting lines. Which take forever. The apron is the ONLY one in the country to face INTO the sun, leaving you burnt to a crisp and squinting all afternoon. The speed bias is so ridiculous that the racing is irrelevant b/c the form doesn't hold up.

And yes I'm grateful to have Kee, but now that i have seen real tracks like Arlington and Belmont I realize it is kinda crappy in some ways.

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by flowing tail

First of all Kee is soooo tiny that a sunny Saturday crowd of 30,000 has absolutely NO WHERE to go. You are shoulder-to-shoulder. The crowd is 90% frat & sorority peeps who are staggering around bleary-eyed and taking up space and getting in the way of the betting lines. Which take forever. The apron is the ONLY one in the country to face INTO the sun, leaving you burnt to a crisp and squinting all afternoon. The speed bias is so ridiculous that the racing is irrelevant b/c the form doesn't hold up.

And yes I'm grateful to have Kee, but now that i have seen real tracks like Arlington and Belmont I realize it is kinda crappy in some ways.

Amen. I was there for two days in the '05 fall meet and though Lexington and the farms are beautiful, I did not get the "atmosphere" at the track that everyone speaks of. Couldn't move. Huge lines for food/drink. Betting lines were okay, if you bet early. No thanks. This is one track that I will stick with the TV for my watching and gambling.

Sar and Dmr are both miles ahead IMO. Hell, I'd rather spend a weekend at Churchill than Kee.

Oh, and to stay on topic. Sar over Dmr. The older I get, the less I care about the night life. For racing and track atmosphere, it's Saratoga for me.

Bigs

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

Amen. I was there for two days in the '05 fall meet and though Lexington and the farms are beautiful, I did not get the "atmosphere" at the track that everyone speaks of. Couldn't move. Huge lines for food/drink. Betting lines were okay, if you bet early. No thanks. This is one track that I will stick with the TV for my watching and gambling.

Sar and Dmr are both miles ahead IMO. Hell, I'd rather spend a weekend at Churchill than Kee.

Oh, and to stay on topic. Sar over Dmr. The older I get, the less I care about the night life. For racing and track atmosphere, it's Saratoga for me.

Bigs

Thanks. Yeah, i almost always bet after looking at horses in the paddock on my way across to the track to watch--just a couple of moments to post. Which is where the lines at Kee are practically impossible down close to the track. This is why, as you say, Churchill is preferable... on a normal saturday you can actually MOVE around, see the paddock... bet, get to a seat... and actually SIT and watch!

For me nightlife is a wash at all of these since they are all close enough to a few good, large bars that the fun is what you make of it.

[Pointg5]

Keeneland's not bad if you stay on the second floor, I don't look at the horses before the races, I think that's very overrated, and kind of silly, but to each their own, also most of my bets are multiple race bets, so I don't care what the horse looks like at that point. If you stay on the second floor, you can walk out and watch the races, it's a great view up there and when the race is over, walk back inside and you can watch silmulcast. The lines aren't bad up there for betting, to get a drink, or get something to eat, if you stay downstairs, it's a mess down there and no wonder it's hard to do anything. I will not go back to Keeneland, until they get rid of the poly track. I have never been to Saratoga or Delmar, so I can't compare them...

[Gander]

As far as Monmouth goes, I actually prefer the racing there to Del Mars by a lot. But you cant for one second compare the beaches. Beaches in NJ just arent in the same league as the beaches by Del Mar. Not even the same sport! And the women on the beaches? Its California by 5, by 6, California opening up under a hand ride!