I got a lot of insults and you admitted I haven't said anything bad about you. I don't do stuff like that. Why do I go ? I want to see Racing History. It's pretty simple. Would I go to Belmont when there isn't a TC on the line, yes, it's a great day. I went to all those Woody Stephens Belmonts.

I've been in the racing business 40 years and I'm not a douchebag or dense.

Cannot comment on Belmont day but I have been for the BC. While I am lucky enough to be in LA and to have attended quite a few Breeders Cup days I have to say that the one at Belmont was by far my favorite.

It was an extraordinary day and I hope that newer fans, in particular, are not put off by any comments here.

It is a beautiful and historic track and very hard to imagine some of the negativity posted here.

Been there many times in recent years when things have gone wrong. I'll never forget the line of women snaking its way through the men's room to appropriate all the stalls, while guys pissed at the urinals all around. And I was there last year when they ran out of food. But aren't all those things part of its charm? I mean, we're not wimpy tennis fans for gosh sake. We're horse racing fans, assailed on all sides. Suck it up.

To say that there is no way that they would reach the cap doesn't mesh with the facts. The last five times there has been a triple crown attempt on the line, on-track attendance has been at least 94,476 (Big Brown) all the way up to 120,139 for Smarty Jones. If anything, the recent trend in racing has been that "marquee" dates like triple crown and breeders cup are increasing in attendance, as evidenced by the record crowd for Oaks/Derby last weekend. I wouldn't want to battle the crowds but an increasing number of people want to be witness to history and are willing to be inconvenienced to do so.

Absolutely agree that there are some consolations to be made at a big event. However, look at the income. GA is $15 and seating more. That will be more than 2 or 3 mil on admissions alone. Add that much or more beer and food and then 5% of a 100 million handle and it adds up. We're talking 10 to 15 million on this day.

Do I begrudge NYRA making this money ? No.

Can they do better, yes.

If you're not among the back slappin, lip smackin, finger-lickin-good crowd here you're a troll. I love it when so called established few bash others for saying something they don't like or doesn't fit the mold and they know absolutely nothing about you. Classic forum blah blah blah.

It is not that at all. You just have to avoid saying stupid things and expect someone not to challenge them. You know, like these gems:

* That your dog is trained by Steve Byk ATR

* That you bash an entity, county and police force in charge of throwing a big event and that you barely got out with your life last year while saying that you bought tickets to the same event this year.

* That you have made enough wagering to pay off your mortgage.

* That you call people a troll and then say you never said anything negative about them.

* That AP hardly broke a sweat in the Kentucky Derby.

* That you told Bob Baffert years ago when you met him to call you if he needs any advice.

You avoid saying stupid things like that and post things that are credible and make sense and you will be fine. Though I would not recommend coming on after the Derby and posting in several threads that you love winning and it feels so good to pick the right horse when you picked the favorite in the Derby.

:tro:

Golly gee point man, I have been remiss in thanking you and others for the warm welcome and thank you for explaining this all to me. Because I, for one, am so naïve and uninformed about these things, I will try very hard from now on to make sure anything I post passes your sieve test. I'll sleep much better now knowing the rules of engagement we must follow here.

But I would suggest, if I may be so bold, that you should try and lighten up a bit, relax and don't take everything everybody says so seriously or personally . . . you'll feel better and live longer that way. You appear to be, among others here, strung as tight as a cheap Timex and you know what happens to cheap Timex watches. No hard feelings on my part. Peace and brotherhood and since I'm older and pretty much set in my ways . . . well I probably spell potato differently than you do and always will. :D:wf;)

Now on to more important stuff like the Preakness and other pertinent horse racing talk.

Are you Easy Goer Otis' alter ego or something?

Though it seems obvious, it seemed clear to me that a few, including you, didn't understand that. But therein lies the problem, myself, and the others that you like to disparage, try to focus on the pertinent part.

WTF?