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Originally Posted by booner
4 years ago, I was invited to go to Ellis Park with some friends from work. While I had always thought about going, I had never taken the time to do it. Could hardly make sense of the track program, but hit the tri in the second race for $180 and was off and rolling. I loved the atmosphere and the betting, but what really hooked me was watching the horses run. The beauty and grace they displayed pulled me in. But I didn't go head over heels until the next year.
I followed the races a little during the winter. That spring, went to Churchill and saw a horse named Afleet Buck in a $30k claiming race. Absolutely fell in love with him from first sight. For some reason, when I saw him in the paddock, he just caught my eye. To this day, I still don't know what it was. He finished 3rd or 4th that day, and I put him on my watch list.
That October, my brother and I took a trip to Keeneland, and he was entered in a $50k claimer. I was on pins and needles when they went into the gate. He was in last early, but made a big move around the turn, closed fast and lost a photo for the win. I was screaming and hollering like crazy when he was closing the last 2 furlongs. I had a feeling of excitement and passion that I couldn't explain. After the race, a couple in front of me asked if I owned the horse, because I sure was cheering like I did.
I used to keep up with football and basketball fervently, but since that day everything has transfered to horse racing. I love staying up late at night poring over the PP's, going to the track the next day, and seeing a race play out exactly like I pictured it in my head.
As I'm typing this, I have found out that putting into words the way I actually feel about horse racing is very difficult. I could name several more reasons why I love this game so much. The atmosphere of being at the track, the anticipation as they load into the gate, the beauty of watching them run around the track, and the personal satisfaction I get when the race plays out like I pictured it........it's a feeling like no other.
I could ramble on and on and on, but I'll end it here. I love this game!!
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