Live Racing....

[rontheman1964]

God, I forgot how much fun this game can be in person.

My brother and his wife were up from Kansas on Friday. While I was at work he mowed my lawn. I got home, we grilled a couple pork loins he had brought, ate, and moved some furniture my wife had wanted upstairs. We're having a beer when he says "You think we can head to the fairgrounds for the last few races?" There is no more horse racing or simulcasting in his area of Kansas.

Hell, the guy mowed my lawn, fed me, and helped me move one couch upstairs and another couch downstairs. What could I say? I grabbed some cash and my phone and told the wife we'd be back late. Thinking if things went all right we may be playing the Hollywood simulcast.

I hadn't been to live racing in probably 20 years or better. I pretty much play the bigger simulcast circuits because I feel the bigger purses and pools make for a more fair playing surface for everyone.

The Lincoln Fairgrounds in Lincoln, NE is hardly the hub of thoroughbred racing but this night the parking lot was fairly packed with cars and the buzz of the crowd was energizing. I felt the thrill of walking up the grandstand ramp just like I did when I was 14 years old with the money from my paper route.

We played a couple of races. Yelled like crazy for our horses. And cashed a few tickets. Went up to the clubhouse for the late simulcast feed. Hit a couple more tickets and came home for a beer.

I love this game....simulcast and live.