Is The Track A Depressing Place?

randallscott35 · #1 04-08-2007, 11:05 AM

I have to say yes.

With the exception of Saratoga which is more of a vacation feeling than a racetrack feel. But other than that, I dread going to the racetrack. I would much rather place my bets at home. When I go, I see sad faces who will be losing today. Who bring their paycheck and curse the T.V. as they bet on any simulcast track they can get down on.

I feel the same way about casinos. I hate them. So depressing. You can feel the sorrow in the room. It isn't exciting at all. It's empty....I guess we are a long way from the 50's when a weekday card in NY could draw forty thousand people.

Danzig · #2 04-08-2007, 11:07 AM

i don't find it depressing. what people do with their money doesn't concern me much...it's theirs.

i hate casinos tho. i went once, about ten years ago. too noisy, too many machines clanging, too mind-numbingly boring sitting their pushing buttons or pulling handles. yuk

Cajungator26 · #3 04-08-2007, 11:08 AM

I actually like it...

I like seeing the horses in the paddock more than anything, though.

#4 04-08-2007, 11:18 AM

If you focus on the people, absolutely.

But when I go up to the second floor for two bucks, and sit next to my own little TV and can watch any race I want, or turn back to some other sporting event, it is a little piece of heaven.

The bathrooms are clean, I can get up and walk around and look at how the grass on the track is doing. The food is inexpensive and decent. I got my racing form in front of me with a nice cushioned chair... it really can make a nice day for me Randall. You can get out of the hustle and bustle of 3300 kids, always signing papers for 180 kids to go here and there, it is a quiet little relief for me. My wife still does not understand what it is like to have interplay with so many different people during a day. Its very taxing even though I love it (the teaching part).

Broke up a fight the other day and got blood all over myself. Had to write up this long winded report. Had to go by the nurse so she could give me a clean bill of health (the kids had opened big cracks on each others foreheads with blows and blood was everywhere). Very next thing I go into a parent conference about a kid who is taking his frustrations out on his parents divorce by doing poorly in school, whats your plan Mr. G...

so the track is such a gift for me.

Riot · #5 04-09-2007, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgardn

My wife still does not understand what it is like to have interplay with so many different people during a day. Its very taxing even though I love it (the teaching part).

You need a school field trip ... calculation of odds ratios, return on investment, diversification of portfolio, allocation of assets to ventures of differing risk .... good life lessons to be learned at the track!

Grits · #6 04-08-2007, 11:08 AM

Going to Keeneland, one doesn't usually feel that way. And sure, the majority of people lose at the tracks everyday. But those people are not your concern. You did not place their wagers with your money.

There are tracks one can still go to and enjoy. I love Belmont as well as Keeneland and Saratoga.

#7 04-08-2007, 11:10 AM

Yeah all of the tracks in North America are scummy and depressing...except for Saratoga of course. Mmmm doughnuts...

Scav · #8 04-08-2007, 11:10 AM

Some area's of the track are depressing, but Arlington is not, Hawthorne, is depressing. Arlington has that 'weekend' hangout place feeling going on and when it is nice out, it is alot of fun

There are places at Arlington that are scummy but I tend to not be around those

Danzig · #9 04-08-2007, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scav

Some area's of the track are depressing, but Arlington is not, Hawthorne, is depressing. Arlington has that 'weekend' hangout place feeling going on and when it is nice out, it is alot of fun

now that is true.

i can't wait til july and arlington....

alysheba4 · #10 04-08-2007, 11:15 AM

santa anita on a good clear day is the most beautiful track in america so its not to bad.....but the hassle of going "live" has been tired for quite some time.

randallscott35 · #11 04-08-2007, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alysheba4

santa anita on a good clear day is the most beautiful track in america so its not to bad.....but the hassle of going "live" has been tired for quite some time.

I separate beautiful from depressing....It can be both.

DerbyCat · #12 04-08-2007, 11:26 AM

Two weeks ago I went back down to California for a visit and went to Bay Meadows on a Thursday (ok, I also went Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but that's not the point

) - I got there early, got a clubhouse box on the finish line, sat in the sun and capped. Around the third race, my brother looked over at me and asked, "what the h*ll is that look on your face?" I realized I was at peace, there was no place on earth that I would rather have been at that very moment. Warmth, sun, horses running, a cold beer, my brother, my best friend... what more could I want? The track a depressing place? Far from it, to me it's heaven....

My name is DerbyCat, and I'm a Trackaholic.

Grits · #13 04-08-2007, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scav

Some area's of the track are depressing, but Arlington is not, Hawthorne, is depressing. Arlington has that 'weekend' hangout place feeling going on and when it is nice out, it is alot of fun

I have never been to Arlington Racecourse, and I want to go badly. Some time in the future, hopefully.

Scav · #14 04-08-2007, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grits

I have never been to Arlington Racecourse, and I want to go badly. Some time in the future, hopefully.

It is Duchessosis's baby and manicured to perfection (the outside flower bed spelled "ARLINGTON", really nice) It is extremely clean and well taken care of.

Some people say that it has turned into an amusement park and local bar scene and to an extent that is true. The bottom floor is that way, Alot of 30 somethings with their first born bring their kid out to the track and see the 'horsies' and push the stroller around BUT when you get upstairs, more so in the simucasting area and both Silks and Mr. D's, you get some hardcore gamblers. Both situations are great to be in, in small doses, I try to get both.

The finger snapping f-bomb dropping program throwing and then some milf checking/beer guzzeling/right on track/yapping with friends action

hoovesupsideyourhead · #15 04-08-2007, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grits

I have never been to Arlington Racecourse, and I want to go badly. Some time in the future, hopefully.

dont bother..its a nice place..clean ect but the racing is the worst

brianwspencer · #16 04-08-2007, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scav

Some area's of the track are depressing, but Arlington is not, Hawthorne, is depressing. Arlington has that 'weekend' hangout place feeling going on and when it is nice out, it is alot of fun

There are places at Arlington that are scummy but I tend to not be around those

I could not agree more. The first floor at Hawthorne is one of the most depressing places I've ever been. It's awful, I can't stand it.

Arlington....hmmmm, I cannot think of one depressing thing about being at Arlington Park. Matter of fact, I also cannot think of one single place I would rather be at any moment than Arlington Park.

ateamstupid · #17 04-08-2007, 07:11 PM

No, the track isn't depressing to me, it's exciting. NYC OTB's, however, make me want to bash lightbulbs over my head. Those are depressing.

pmayjr · #18 04-08-2007, 08:23 PM

I guess it depends where you go.

Going to Keeneland on a yearly basis in December, when it's ratty out, is still so beautiful and not depressing at all. Everything there is classy. But the last 2 years when I've gone there, I've stayed in Cincy. So I also make a visit to Turfway. Turfway is clean, but tacky. It's a much more depressin atmosphere there.

Now as for my home track Canterbury, I don't think that place is depressin at all (except when I lose $$$ lol). During live racing in the summer, it has a younger atmosphere. You see young couples there all the time, especially on Thur and Fri nights. Minnesota summers (eventhough we maybe get 3 good months... maybe 4) are for the most part pretty pleasant, especially in the early evenings. So it makes the racing there not depressing at all. Canterbury doesn't have the classiness of Keeneland, but it's a clean and modern-looking place.

Uncle Daddy · #19 04-12-2007, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

I could not agree more. The first floor at Hawthorne is one of the most depressing places I've ever been. It's awful, I can't stand it.

Arlington....hmmmm, I cannot think of one depressing thing about being at Arlington Park. Matter of fact, I also cannot think of one single place I would rather be at any moment than Arlington Park.

The second floor at Hawthorne is a notch up and the facilites are better than some other big names (Monmouth!). No compariosn to Arlington!

randallscott35 · #20 04-08-2007, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grits

Going to Keeneland, one doesn't usually feel that way. And sure, the majority of people lose at the tracks everyday. But those people are not your concern. You did not place their wagers with your money.

There are tracks one can still go to and enjoy. I love Belmont as well as Keeneland and Saratoga.

As a track, I love Belmont. Love betting it. But when it is mostly empty which is all the time, it has an empty football stadium feeling to it.

As for the money aspect, sure I'm not shedding a tear for them---but I guess sometimes I can sense how empty they are. They aren't excited as they enter, and they aren't excited when they leave.