now that's the kind of good ole US ingenuity that we've come to expect. if that doesn't get the sport to grow, I ask what will??

Did it work?

Were they named after Grade 1 horses from the past?

How much for "extras" ?

I heard Paris Hilton is considering moving to the St. Louis area because she simply can't get enough of Fairmount.

You got some bad info buster!

She, and her herpes sores, are making the move to Chester Wva....the home of wild and wonderful Mountaineer Park.

you know what? that might not be a bad campaign for NTRA to run with.
They could hire Paris and she could do ads, make paddock appearances, hand out the trophies, maybe show up on ESPN sitting next to Jerry Bailey holding her little dog, "horse racing, that's hot" could be her tag line. this would attract all kinds of kids.

maybe we're getting somewhere now.

That we are ArlJim, that we are.

Al I know is 6-8 of them were there on a Sat night taking pictures. Why weren't they doing this at my track when I was growing up.

perhaps if this trend takes off, when trainers are interviewed by the press the first question will be "and what are you wearing?"

It will be WHO are you wearing. Ala the Oscars. They can get one of those metro dudes to do the interviews. :D

LOL!!!!! I agree, the LAST thing I want to do is wear God damn heels to the track, if you can't dress casual and comfortable there, than where the hell can you!

Hasn't Hollywood's later post time on Friday nights worked very well? Keeneland is a very 'trendy track' and they never have a problem with attendance and trust me, many of those people are not your year round racing affecionados but they are throwing money into the windows because it 'looks cool'.

Nothing will help Aqueduct...I'm a die hard fan of racing and I don't want to step foot in the place.

You guys are killing me!!!! LOL!!!! They could sure use a nice importation of Dentists, thats for sure!:D

Sounds like someone could make a killing opening up a singles bar.

Wimp!

the problem is not getting people to the track --- or making the track trendy or popular --- IMO, it's about educating them on a game that is tremendously intimidating and complex.

I like the idea of getting dressed up for the big meetings... I think its a fine suggestion by the creator of this thread! It won't and shouldnt work for the run of the mill race meetings, but for the bigger ones, it would be nice..

i'm so stupid, I meant "who are you wearing"
duh

:D

I think the problem is twofold. You'll always draw people to Saratoga, but I think a lot of tracks do suffer by not being the trendy or popular or respectful place for people who are not fans yet to attend. Saratoga doesn't suffer for the reasons that it is all of those things and yet also has a very casual and family friendly side. (SARATOGA RULES! :) ) What do you think is the general public perception of the racetrack? The answer does not lie in better dress code (although since everyone is treating it like a business and not a sport shouldn't they be dressing like it?), but if you build an atmosphere in which all people want to show up than you'll have a group of people that you can educate on racing.

I definitely agree that they need to find ways to educate people at the track.

Someday I'll see you at Royal Ascot! ;)

you're right, but these are just isolated cases. there are only a few niche areas that could cater to this type of crowd. Keeneland and Sarotaga are high end marquee meets that are really events to themselves. Hollywood and Arlington to an extent have drawn in the youth crowd with some success. but to revive our sport and make it grow these are just drops in the bucket.

I think Del Mar have done a good job getting a young crowd. When I was there on opening Friday, there were plenty there. Sure they might have been there mainly for the concert afterwards but still..

Unfortunately what more can be done if racing continues to not cater to the fan by early retirements, the wagering mess and the preceived dishonesty of trainers among other things?

I wish I lived near Hollywood because from what I was watching on TV it looks like they were really trying their best to bring a good product to their customers.

Ken Ramsey?

Strip clubs are also doing well on the opposite end of the spectrum

You would not want to live too close...

i hear that that guy though is a real 'dick'!!

get it?

How else would I have ever discovered that I actually like martinis?

There's a sharp dresser!

no you don't, trust me on that one.

flying into LA is like watching a scene from a nightmarish borg planet. concrete everywhere extending in all directions for much further than the eye can see, even from an airplane.

hours of traffic to get anywhere. pollution, stupid people, and constant noise.

though, inglewood, the town HP is in, is a lovely place. it's amazing what iron bars over every window and door can do to pretty up a place!

you can get really good ribs at least down at mr. jims. you need no teeth to eat our beef!

best bbq i've ever been to.

lol
so how do those of us who don't go to church figure out how to dress?!

j/k..

i enjoy casual wear, but there are times that call for something more.

I was at Randwick in Sydney last October. They had something like 4 Grade1 races and two Grade 3's on the Saturday afternoon card. I guess they had about 40k in attendance that day. The younger crowd was there and all dressed up. The ladies were in their finest low cut dresses and heels. 95% of the crowd was there for one thing, to get drunk. There were bars set up the entire grandstand apron, which is very long at Randwick. There were party tents all over the place too. I went in a golf shirt and shorts which I wear most of the time to Del Mar. I sat in a half empty grandstand and had a great view of the track and finish line and had a wonderful time. I did take a walk through the grandstand apron and I can tell you seeing drunk women falling all over the place in their heels, that didnt help their balance was funny. I just dont see what getting dressed up and sh_t faced has to do with racing, but the Aussies love it. I can tell you there was over $1M in each win pool, but I think most of it came in off track.

Luckily the bus ride back to my hotel in Sydney wasnt bumpy.

I would like to wear the Dee Tee Silks every time I go to the track.

i want dee tee silks jammies.

It has nothing to do with racing.

Getting dressed up has nothing to do with racings popularity either.

Everyone loves getting drunk in a fun atmosphere --- be it all dressed up or in a high school keg party/spring break type atmosphere like the Preakness infield.

How many of those people get converted into competent bettors or serious racing fans? The tracks need to find a way to figure out how to do that.

Great Britain "I say luv, you look smashing"





USA "Git-r-done!"

HA HA!

That is funny Jim!

Actually, at Lone Star, people DO go instead of a Martini bar or lounge on a Friday night.

About the only place I can say that about.

what are you doing with your time
 

If you have time to worry about what people are wearing in the paddock. How the heck are you making any money at this meet. I'm so focused on the job at hand. that i don't even notice the people. i look at the horses!

I don't think Saratogabrit meant that all of racing's ills would be cured by a lack of baggy nylon basketball pants in the paddock.

Maybe I'm old but I DO get dressed up for racing. I have no problem with a PADDOCK dress code, as 'Brit mentioned. If you are walking around inside the saddling paddock, is it too hard to but on khakis rather than jeans? I think also that some of the "enforcement" of dress codes are subjective. I was one denied admission to the paddock because my (then) 4 year old son was in shorts. He was in khaki shorts with an oxford shirt and tie! He was 4!! It was 100 degrees!! I was fine with it until I realized that a certain trainer, who's son is the same age as mine was in the paddock, holding his kid, dressed exactly the same as mine! My credentials are as "legal" as his are. I spoke to the head of paddock security who admitted me, as usual.

I agree about the clubhouse vs grandstand dress code as well. Why call one area a "clubhouse" if the rules are the same as the other side of the fence?

For "special" meets like Saratoga, Keeneland and Del Mar it seems like dressing up is part of the tradition. I don't "judge a book by it's cover" and assume that jeans/Tshirt = lowlife, yet it is nice to adhere to certain traditions in certain places.

As for Aqueduct, well I LOVE the place. I may stroll the paddock at the Spa in August but I'll also visit the below ground, frozen, rubber paved paddock of the Big A in winter. Aqueduct isn't Saratoga, it's not trying to be. But when I get to the paddock there, I'll be wearing nice dress pants, boots and the warmest coat I can find. It's nice to walk into Equestris for the price of admission to the Spa Grandstand, get a great table overlooking the track (and Runway 7 west) with a betting machine and access to 20 simulcasts at the table.

I do.