Even though it doesn't happen on a regular basis anymore.............I went to opening day at Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha in either 1985 or 1986 when they had Willie Shoemaker day to kick-off the season. There was probably 23,000-25,000 people there for some giveaways and a salute to one of the great jockeys. Beautiful day, typical card of shippers coming in from Fonner, Oaklawn, and Turf Paradise. Jack Van Berg, Don Von Hemmel, in their prime.
A couple of years later............the track is gone. If I sound a little sentimental, I am.
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A racehorse is an animal that can take several thousand people for a ride at the same time. ~Author Unknown
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