what got you in .. why is horseracing ...

[theiman]

Summer of 1970.
The back up goalie for the NY Rangers, Gilles Villemure, was a harness trainer driver at Roosevelt Raceway. I had Ranger season tickets and had to see him drive.
I found a friend who was 17, as I was 15 and too young to drive, and he was going to the track and got a ride with him. He told me we would have to ask an adult to walk us in thru the gate, so we asked some older folks, gave them the $2 admission and went in with them. I won the first night betting $2on each race. Bought my first horse 6 years later at 21 and have loved it since.
Converted to mostly T-Breds about 20 years ago, but still follow the trots as some of my friends still own standardbreds.

Never regret getting into the game or following it. Met way too many good people along the way, and some creeps too.

[Rileyoriley]

An uncle took me to the Northampton fairgrounds when I was 7 and watching the TC races on tv with my grandfather. Derby and BC day are my holidays. I only bet a couple times a year but I tape all the races.

[jman5581]

Growing up a mile from Churchill Downs did it for me.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

My father and grandfather and others in my family were all degenerate horse gamblers.

As were some of the regulars at a little bar my dad owned/booked bets from. That was of course after his illustrious betting coup/training career was halted.

I guess I was a big hit in the bar. They named a sandwhich after me - and I was all about giving horse and sports betting advice as long as the recipiant of my fine advice gave me a quarter to go play pac-man after I was finished.

In 1991 I cashed a bet on my first big longshot winner - I believe it came on the same card as when Dance Smartly won the second leg of her Canadian Triple Crown sweep. Through the magic of technology and BRIS Cd's I now know that the winner, Time To Gogo, finished her brilliant career with a 1-for-25 record.

Concern's win in the '94 Classic - when I had the exacta straight and called him winning a last-to-first pace meltdown - that was when I first thought I was a genius...and believed myself.

Perhaps that race played the biggest role in the obsession I got to take handicapping and betting as seriously as I do....or at least did.

[AeWingnut]

I took my uncle Charlie to the riverboat. He was bored stiff. He took me to the OTB and that was it. I didn't know it at the time but his uncle Ed owned horses. I'm afraid we are losing more of the old breed without new blood filling the void.

I agree with hoove's it is solving a puzzle. For some reason the very first thing I look at is bloodlines.

[nomad]

I grew up just a few miles from Aqueduct, but never went. At that time, you had to be 18. I left NY when I was 18. went to Cal, met a guy who took me to NM. A friend suggested going to SF Downs so a group of us went. I watched a few races. I've always been an animal lover. When I saw a horse that looked great, I thought about making my first bet. I asked a more experienced friend if I should bet the horse to show. He said "If you like a horse, you should bet to win"
So I put $2 to win on this 10/1 shot. I got back $22 & got hooked for life.
I still make those $2 win bets on horses I like the looks of & it's been 30 years.
I love this game & I love the beautiful animals that make it possible.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by docicu3

I like animals. I'm a statistics and figures and charts geek. I like gambling.
__________________



I graduated from this school as well......

Watching Easy Goer and Sunday Silence teach me what the triple crown was didn't hurt either

Yeah, Sunday Silence/Easy Goer pretty much sealed me for life as well.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by philcski

Yeah, Sunday Silence/Easy Goer pretty much sealed me for life as well.

Ditto.

[westcoastinvader]

Originally Posted by philcski

Yeah, Sunday Silence/Easy Goer pretty much sealed me for life as well.

I used to tell girlfriends never to worry about me meeting a girl at the track (or the OTB) when I went off on my own to watch and wager. I really believed it. Too focused on the horses and the form, and not many girls in attendance.

That all changed when I went to Belmont to see Easy Goer and Sunday Silence, with hopes of seeing Sunday Silence win the Triple Crown.

I was hanging by the paddock before the 1st race, not far from the Secretariat statue, when I met a young lady. We ended up having a wonderful day. At least I did. It was the first time in my life I met a girl (besides my mother....!) who loved thoroughbred racing. I won't go into much more detail of that day being a supposed gentleman and all that....

I think I've told the story before, but once I was by myself at an OTB in Indianapolis when what I considered to be an attractive unescorted girl came asking to see my form, and sat down and struck up a conversation. I was in town on business, and honest to goodness I presumed she was a hooker. In fact, I flat out asked her if she was a hooker.... pretty matter of factly. I didn't need no hooker interfering with my horse racing gambling! Turned out she wasn't. She had a good laugh, and we had some nice times together.


FWIW, going forward, I would not recommend "are you a hooker?" as an ice breaker line.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by westcoastinvader

FWIW, going forward, I would not recommend "are you a hooker?" as an ice breaker line.

Thanks. I'll be sure to make note of that.

[pmayjr]

When I was in my early teens, my parents and I would go to the greyhound track across the border in Hudson, WI, and to Canterbury when it re-opened in the Mid-90s. Gambling with my parents' $$$ seemed fun, and I evenn made them some $$$ from time to time.

I didn't play much on my own when I turned 18, because I went to school in South Dakota. They had an OTB in the college town I lived in, but I didn't find that out until the last few months I went to school out there lol.... ignorance was probably bliss on that one. The funny thing was, I remember hitting an exacta on a race at Hialeahwhen I was at that OTB (it was '01 or '02 at the latest), and I wonder if the track was open much longer after that?

When I came back to Minneapolis and started working a steady job, I started simulcasting at Canterbury more. Over time I've become pretty decent at it, and even do some contests now (when I can afford it). I usually go every weekend, and love playing the crappy night tracks the most.

I guess the thing as far as betting goes that hooks me to the game the most, is the minimum investment you can put into winning a lot of $$$$. I really don't have the most money to spend, but I can use my skill to win some big bets anyway.

[Bobby Fischer]

I was introduced by my father, who is a sportsman and a horseplayer.
I have never participated in anything that matches the game of horseracing.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by philcski

Yeah, Sunday Silence/Easy Goer pretty much sealed me for life as well.

Strange that so many people share that same story. Count me in as another who was hooked by the '89 Triple Crown.
That is why I will never change my avatar.

[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!!

[NTamm1215]

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!!

Great post that captures so much of why so many of us love this game. Truly the greatest game in the world.

NT

[Oaklawnfan]

Here you can get real entertainment value for your wager. It's participatory, not passive or quite as impulsive.

[Danzig]

i'm just a horse nut. gambling is secondary for me.

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by Riot

Judging by people's answers, it seems the most important point for creating new fans is for them to be exposed to the track as youngsters.

Does anyone know when the Derby was first televised on national TV?

I think the first time I saw a horse race was Northern Dancer winning in 1964, but that may be confused childhood memories ... I know I remember reading about it in the Sunday paper (I was a horse-crazy kid and looked for anything about horses, everywhere)

I know I watched Venetian Way and Bally Ache and Celtic Ash in the 1960 Triple Crown races because I drew strangely proportioned but labelled pictures of the winners with blankets of flowers over their withers. (Only 8, you see, and not particularly artistically talented.) Native Dancer is supposed to have been the first racehorse TV star, back in 1953.

[azerica]

Originally Posted by jballscalls

My dad would take me to Longacres every weekend during the season. I can still hear Gary Henson "And here he comes, the Captain Condo is on the move" after they closed longacres i didnt go to the track for probably 7 or 8 years. when my dad got sick i started going with him alot that spring/summer of 2001 to Emerald Downs. After he passed away i spent alot of time at EmD and started falling in love with racing as i did in my childhood. I dont gamble hardly at all anymore, just love being a part of the game and enjoying it everyday.

I love Emerald Downs. They had it nicely decorated with the past triple crown winners banners for Smarty Jones' attempt in the Belmont.

Belatde condolenses for your father...

[pgiaco]

Degenerate gambler Grandparents. They used to take me to Aqueduct to babysit me. Fell in love with the horses then and there.....The gambling/problem solving angle appeals to me, but pedigree research and mating planning sealed the deal.