slots the magic bullet, and a bit of waxing poetic

[ShadowRoll]

I don't really want to start another thread bemoaning racing's sad state of affairs in terms of fan decline, but here you go: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/loc...l-sports-horse

It's no surprise that slots aren't the panacea that some people anticipated.

Yesterday, when I was at the track, I was holding a live pick 4 ticket and waiting for the last leg of the sequence. I had three horses in the last race, and the ticket in my hand included a 22 to 1 winner from the second leg. It was a beautiful day and I was outside, standing in the sun. At that moment, I felt like there wasn't anywhere else in the world that I'd rather be. It wasn't just the possible money. It was the satisfaction of making at least some sense of all the numbers and information. It was the palpable awareness that came over me at that moment of the drama and tradition that imparts that feeling of timelessness on almost every racetrack to which I've ever been. It was the recognition that I still get a thrill every time I see the desperate struggle reflected in the flattened ears and big, big eyes of two horses vying at the line. I almost laughed out loud for the utter joy of it. If only there was some way to bottle this feeling. Then I'd know that this game would never die.