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Originally Posted by my miss storm cat
I love reading history but especially personal histories... little fragments and random recollections, sidebars and anecdotes...
So I was wondering if some of you could talk about the tracks that no longer exist. I don't mean so much their location and things I can google... I mean how did you get there and what did you pass on your way? How did people dress and where did you sit?
What options were there in terms of eating and drinking and what did you usually bring with you?
Who did you go with and how did you celebrate if you did well?
How often did you go and when did the track close?
Was the closing of the track dragged out like HP? How do you feel when you pass by whatever is there now?
If you were taken as a kid do you have a favorite memory?
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The first time I went to Colonial I was driven there by a friend who is the worst driver imaginable. We're talking barreling into an exit and breaking hard half way around the turn with the wheels screeching kind of bad. Anyway...traffic was horrible as usual and we sat on 64 for like an hour (Some much needed rest for my racing heart!). It never made any sense to me that this was a 2 lane highway shortly after 95 merges onto it and everyone during that time of the year was headed towards the beach. Stop and go. Stop and go.
Anyway, this was the year that Colonial really came onto the scene with their 3 yo turf series and it was looking to be a huge hit. The track had a nice attendance, they had beer tents and other entertainment going on and all of the dining rooms and bars were well stocked. For the next four years you saw a significant decline of that service and entertainment. One bartender at the busiest bar, etc. The quality of the food in the dinning rooms declined from that first year as well, but it was worth the seats because you could go out on the outdoor patios to watch the races. It was always either pouring rain (See: win photo of Sailor's Cap) or 90 degrees and crazy humid so it was nice having an indoor and outdoor option, even though I generally prefer to be outdoors and as close to the paddock and rail as possible. Most of the people dressed up for the Colonial Turf Cup and VA Derby. Even though there was always a horse or two from the KY Derby, people didn't seem to get as excited about that as they do other tracks. Overall, it didn't really have that vibe of a track that is excited about racing, like Saratoga or New Orleans.
The last time I went to CNL was just before I got hurt for the Colonial Turf Cup. Changing the complexion of those races really took the excitement out of them. It was nice that it was later in the evening; however. I dressed casual, got a glass of wine and watched along the rail. Attendance was very minimal. There was no traffic. Just a couple of attendees and horses who deserved a better audience and venue.