Started going to Rosecroft Raceway (outside of Wash DC) on Friday nights. I had just graduated high school and was going to a community college, working at a car dealership as a lot attendant in the afternoon and on weekends. One of the top salesmen was a guy that had been at this dealership for like 25 years and knew everyone and anyone in the area. The guy would move 40 cars a month just by selling to folks he'd known forever, or were referred to him by folks he'd known for ever. Anyway, this guy in addition to being a very adept harness handicapper apparently knew more than a few folks at the track and more than a few things about the "goings on" as it were.
My buddy and I would take care of him - prepping his cars first, doing anything he needed to get the sale done, etc, and in turn he would let us tag along with him to the track after work.
Needless to say, when you can take a 20.00 bill to the track and come home with 140.00 - your hooked (talking 1980 money here, I was lucky to take home 60 bucks a week working part time
)
I've only seriously followed thoroughbred racing since I moved to the Tampa area about 4 years ago and went to TBD to watch the Preakness. It's a fantastic venue for racing and for the first time in my life a thoroughbred track close to home. 18 days....18 days.
