Quote:
Originally Posted by Kasept
Feel badly for anyone that had a negative experience. I've been through every side of these days in racing attending more than 60 Crown events as a patron, foodservice vendor and media member. I've also been to Daytonas (and most of the stock car tracks), World Series, NCAA's, Stanley Cups, Eagles games (14 year season ticket holder at the Vet). Mostly good experiences. Several bad. A few scary.
I remember post-Smarty Jones being really rough. Got soaked in the teeming rain while stranded in the Blue lot and then the impossible trickle out to Plainfield Ave. Didn't get to Valley Stream (5 miles away) until 11:00 or so. Even on non-TC years, when involved on LIRR, the trains out were hit or miss. Some year better than others.
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I think you may have Funny Cide's and Smarty's Belmonts mixed up. It poured rain during and after Funny Cide's- I remember; I watched the race down at the rail, and got so soaked I had to buy a tshirt on the way out so I had something dry to wear on the ride home- but Smarty's had just a smattering of rain about an hour or so before the race and that was it. I also remember hoping it would rain more since he handled wet tracks well. Heh. Ah well.
I just went and looked up rain fall in Elmont for those dates (because I am a nerd who cannot stay away from the Google) and almost an inch fell in 2003 and less than a tenth of an inch in 2004.
For what it's worth, I don't recall the LIRR being bad Funny Cide's year. I imagine the parking lot wasn't any fun in the rain, but that, at least, can't be blamed on anyone but Mother Nature.
