The Track Philosopher

Unbelievable as it may sound, the Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York will be open for it’s late summer meet. Was there actually any doubt? Oh my, yes, there was doubt and, yes, there was a slight chance that the track might be closed, and that my friends, is unbelievable and incorrigible and disgraceful and despicable.

New York Racing Association has lost it’s way. Even the Belmont Race Track season is in jeopardy as well as the off track betting parlors of the state of New York. And from what I’m hearing the whole situation is a disgusting mess. Aqueduct is next to being in shambles, the betting parlors are absolutely filthy and the fat cats that run the business (into the ground) are getting fatter than phat!

This is the sacred ground for horse racing. It’s where it all started over a century ago. New York is home and Saratoga is the heart to the hollowed Hall of Fame of thoroughbred racing. What a shame, what an awful shame.
According to the Associated Press:

Paterson: NYRA, Saratoga meet will be saved!

New York Gov. David Paterson says a proposed state bailout will pass and New York thoroughbred racing at Belmont and Saratoga race tracks will go on as scheduled.

Paterson was asked in a news conference if NYRA will run out of money before the Saratoga summer meet, as NYRA officials warned Monday.”That’s not going to happen,” Paterson said. “We have a plan to loan NYRA, in the short term, money to get through Saratoga and we’re working on a long-term plan to help beyond that.”

It sure sounds like the horse shit isn’t only in the barns… it’s in the NYRA offices too! Someone needs to get shoveling!

Most all those who are familiar with horse racing in America have seen the movie “Seabiscuit” and many of us who love horse racing are really looking forward to going to theaters in October to see the new release of “Secretariat”. There are several other classics about horse racing or have scenes from the race track that have been enjoyable over the years.
But for my money, there has been no movie about horse racing that was funnier or more entertaining than Jay Trotter’s day at the track in the 1989 film “Let It Ride”.

Most of the scenes are filmed in Hialeah Race Track in Florida, which was later closed in 2001 and reopened on November 28, 2009. The casting was wonderful with Richard Dryfuss, David Johansen, Jennifer Tilly and the incomparable Teri Garr.

If you’ve always dreamed about one day at the track when everything goes your way, you’ll love this performance. Great horse racing dialog and some great lines like, “I’m having a very good day!” And, my favorite, when Tilly’s character makes the statement, “You know, there’s a fine line between winning and losing”. And Trotter (Dryfuss) quickly retorts, “Yea, the finish line”.

If you can’t find it in your local movie rental store, you can get it through Netflix for sure or better yet, order it through Amazon.com so you can view it every year or so. I’ll bet a sawbuck it will become one of your top ten favorites.

As I was working out on my elliptical machine I had one eye on the lap meter and both ears on two so called sports commentators on ESPN’s PMI (Pardon My Interruption). As they were going down the list of sports issues the topic popped up, “the chances of Super Saver to win the triple crown”. Woh, that struck a nerve! Both quickly turned on horse racing as a viable sport and agreed that nobody cares anymore.
Granted, the sport of kings has lost it’s way and needs some guidance but I digress. To sit there and poo-poo horse racing and then spend 10 minutes of expensive air time discussing why or why not Philly fans should be hit with a tazer when they run out onto the field of play, Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, shame on you!

Nobody cares? Nobody cares!

How about these facts:
– 155,804 fans stood out in the rain for hours to view the classic event. MLB, PGA and NASCAR would have told everyone to go on home.

-Why was wagering on the 13-race card – from all sources $112.7 million which was an increase of 7.8 per cent? And in a down economy, because nobody cares?

-16.5 million people watched Super Saver win the Derby making it the most-watched Derby in 21 years. Dying sport?

-NBC earned a rating during the derby of 10.3, the highest in 18 years. And, compared to the other sports on TV Saturday afternoon? Well, let’s see NBA Western Conf. semi finals 4.7, the final round of the PGA’s Quail Hollow tournament 2.8 and NHL’s Eastern Conference semifinals between Boston and Philadelphia got a 1.6 rating on NBC

-The ratings actually rate right behind the final round of The Masters! Wow, and how much air time did that get?

Horse racing is in transition again. But it is full of history, brimming with diversity, set in natural beauty, flavored with a wonderful wagering system, spiced with characters throughout and blessed with those who want nothing more than for it to survive as the true sport of kings and queens that it truly is.

When going to the track there are several ways to approach the day. If you’re fortunate to have seats in the clubhouse, some places require dress wear also known as business casual. Dress pants with a collared shirt is the usual attire.

However there are some tracks like Keeneland for example that still require a sport coat and tie in the upstairs clubhouse. Sometimes it just feels good to bet amongst the big boys and the wanna be big boys.

But a day at the races can also be a long afternoon in the hot sun, when you just want to be with the common folk in the grandstand, down on the rail or around the paddock area.

If that’s the case the items shown above is a good start. Cool shirt, shorts, stylin’ weave brimmed hat, comfortable sneakers or sandals, a couple of pens, a pack for refreshments if allowed and fat cigar just in case you hit the big one or you just want to look like you did.

Whatever the case, get there early so you can get ahead of the races. It’s better to be a couple of races ahead when picking your winners, you never know when you might get sidetracked and run the risk of getting shut out. You’ll soon notice that you actually hit a very high percentage of bets that, for some unknown reason, don’t get bet.

Take it all in while you’re there, watch the horses in the paddock, hang out near the noisy bar area for a while, watch a few from the rail to get the feel of the sport, visit the winner’s circle, watch the people and cash some tickets! You’ll have a great time even if you do lose a couple dollars.

Cashing in your ticket is almost as much fun as that split second when your calculated choice crosses the finish line by 3 lengths…. not as much adrenaline but lots of confidence and self assurance. And all that only lasts until you pick up the racing form to figure out the next race.

When betting there are some important rules:

1) Keep it simple. Bet only what you know and only what you can remember. I’ve seen bettors bet the wrong race, wrong track or wrong numbers because their bets are too complicated.

2) Don’t place too many bets on the same race. If you do then you end up betting against yourself or your winnings won’t cover your bets.

3) Bet that type of bet you are comfortable with and how much you are comfortable with losing. If you are a WIN bettor stick with it, if you bet PLACE or SHOW then that’s your bet. If you like trifectas and supers….. get ready to take out a second mortgage. They are hard to fund and hard to hit.

4) Never change your bet once you circle it in the program. You’ll usually regret it.

5) Watch for OMEN bets. This may sound silly or illogical but just be aware how often this works. If there’s a horse with your wife or girl friend’s name or one of your kids names or parents name…. you got to go for it! Sometimes it’s just a name that stands out…. like “Hold The Beans” or “Badda Bing”.

6) If you are walking back to your seat and realize that you placed the wrong bet always put that ticket in your pocket and go back and place another bet the right way. I’ve heard too many people make the wrong bet and win a big one.

7) After you place your bet count your change before leaving the window. Some cashiers will count money back to you in a slow and choppy method and if you are in a hurry to get back to your seat you just may leave them an unexpected tip. Also check your ticket numbers before leaving too.

8) Have a budget, only bet what you can afford to lose, bet less when you are on a loosing streak, bet more when you are betting with the track’s money and don’t bet too many tracks at once….. you spent your money you should enjoy the race.

9) Be serious but have fun.

10) And finally, know your horse’s name…. they are much more than just a number.

“There is a fine line between winning and losing…… The Finish Line!!” That line comes from one of the funniest movies about horse racing ever made, “Let it Ride”.

The finish line is the focal point in a race. It is the official end of the event’s competitive flow. However, the event has life after this point with cheering or cussing or disbelief or question or confusion or etc. etc.

Pictured here is a extremely rare three way dead heat which was captured by the finish line camera at the end of the 6th race on June 10th of 1944 at Aqueduct Race Track.

Since racing by nature is about speed, two or more participants reach the finish line at the same time on many occasions.

In 1932, at the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California uniform automatic timing and the photo-finish camera were used for the first time. And it was a matter of years before the technology made it’s way into the sport of thoroughbred racing. What the human eye only thought it saw, the finish line camera could prove without question or conflict.

When two or more horses hit the wire (the finish line) at the same time they all share in that position no matter what that position is. Today the camera is digital and the results are viewed instantaneously which is a far cry from the nail biting, brow sweating, nerve wrenching 15-20 minutes of eternity of yesteryear.