I remember when opening day at Thistledown was a special occasion in Cleveland, and the track would manage to get about 10,000 for the return of racing each April.
As late as the early 1990s the Cleveland Plain Dealer devoted an entire page to horse racing (a package that included coverage of Standardbred racing at Northfield Park). Bob "Railbird" Roberts advanced the season, gave picks for each race (throughout the year), and maintained a mythical bankroll to play the ponies each day.
When year-round simulcasting came to Ohio and Thistledown began running more dates (though there has since been a contraction) the idea of opening day became less special. People in Cleveland had been betting on Thoroughbred racing all winter, so the return of Ohio breds to Thistledown wasn't as big a deal.
A proliferation of race dates at many tracks (and in many regions) along with simulcasting and account wagering has rendered the idea of a racing season anachronistic in all but a few markets. Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Santa Anita Park, Oaklawn Park, Arlington Park, and Fair Grounds Race Course come to mind as tracks where "opening day" resonates with its local market.
Unquestionably, the king of opening days in Thoroughbred racing is Saratoga Race Course. The track is a destination for pleasure seekers and its signal a destination for professional horseplayers and weekend warriors alike. As a trainer or owner, winning a meet title there means more than it does at any other track. Gambling on horses is one long meet from the day you place your first $2 wager until the day you die, but just as those in the business would rather pick the Kentucky Derby winner than the fifth at Retama, everyone wants to finish "up for the meet" at Saratoga.
To that end, I have entered the second annual Huddie Saratoga contest in which I pick one horse per day on which to place a mythical $2 across the board wager. The contestant with the highest total at the end of the meet wins. I didn't get in last year because I boycotted the Saratoga meet in protest of New York raising the takeout on pick four wagers to 26%, but the boycott is over (even though the takeout is 26%), and my friends had such a great time following the action last year that I couldn't possibly pass up a chance to be in on the fun this year.
So even though opening week coincides with my vacation, I'll be handicapping the races from the road and hopefully finding a couple winners to get things started right.
This is not the second annual contest...I believe it's the third annual
ReplyDeleteIt is the 3rd Annual Contest. I am sure of it because last year I dropped out of the 2nd Annual Contest.
ReplyDeleteFor the record I'm on permanent boycott of any wagering pool that robs the public at a 20% rate or higher.
ReplyDeleteAnd if that track has slots and still does not reduce it to a realistic rate, then the management should be ashamed of themselves.
The fun will take care of itself when "proper pricing" is accounted for.
This is a nice place you have here Mr. DeRosa.
FYI I also conduct $2 Across the Board contests at my page. Hope to see you sometime. ;-)
1. Racing in Cleveland: Are you old enough to remember when Bob (Railbird) Roberts covered the races for the Cleveland Press. Their coverage included complete charts. I drove many miles to get that paper. When the Press died "Railbird" moved to the Plain Dealer. Now that they show little interest, I think Bob is the media director at TDN.
ReplyDelete2. Please add our Saratoga Challenge to your list of possible plays next season. You can follow us at
http://saratogachallenge.blogspot.com/
3. As for the meal described in your lastest post, "life just gets tougher." It sounds like that experience will leave a lasting "taste in your mouth" as well as your memory. Am I jealous? YES
4. Get back to work.