What FL track is better?

[Monarchos1]

Another vote here for Tampa. There's no contest when comparing the on-track experience. Gulfstream is easily the most fan-unfriendly track I've been to. No sight lines, overpriced concessions, grumpy employees and angry mutuel clerks. You can hardly find a place at GP to actually see the races live, so you're better off to enjoy a nice day at TBD and watch simulcasts of the GP races, which is what you'd be doing at GP anyway.

[GPK]

Once you have spent a day at Tampa Bay Downs in the BigsMC luxury box suite, right on the finish line, there is nothing quite comparable in all of racing...much less in the State of Florida

[Antitrust32]

$1 beers @ Gulfstream and they have Franks and grey goose.

ease of getting around & expense = Tampa Bay

nightlife, resteraunts - GP

quality of racing - GP

ambience, crowd, safety - equal.. besides FL Derby day where it is way too crowded in the small space.

They are both good tracks in their own way. Old Gulfstream would have dominated this discussion though.

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

Old Gulfstream would have dominated this discussion though.

[TropicalStorm]

I like Tampa but you can not compare a big league track like Gulfstream to Tampa. Gulfstream is much much better. You can go to the morning workouts at Gulfstream and the racing involves the best horses in the world. There is a casino there for additional fun and you can walk to the beach.

A typical day at Gulfstream could be watching the morning works, hitting the beach for a few hours, live racing where you can occasionally see grade 1 winners in a Wednesday allowance race, then you can either play cards or slots at the casino and have a few drinks, or take a nap before going out in South Beach. Gulfstream is the big leagues while Tampa is the minor leagues. I love Tampa and I also enjoy minor league baseball, but I go to the track to see great horses and Gulfstream will have 50-100 possible derby horses run during the meet. I would say only Saratoga and Del Mar are better than Gulfstream. Belmont has better racing but it is actually quite a dreary place most of the time.

[Left Bank]

Originally Posted by CrossfireHurricane

I like Tampa but you can not compare a big league track like Gulfstream to Tampa. Gulfstream is much much better. You can go to the morning workouts at Gulfstream and the racing involves the best horses in the world. There is a casino there for additional fun and you can walk to the beach.

A typical day at Gulfstream could be watching the morning works, hitting the beach for a few hours, live racing where you can occasionally see grade 1 winners in a Wednesday allowance race, then you can either play cards or slots at the casino and have a few drinks, or take a nap before going out in South Beach. Gulfstream is the big leagues while Tampa is the minor leagues. I love Tampa and I also enjoy minor league baseball, but I go to the track to see great horses and Gulfstream will have 50-100 possible derby horses run during the meet. I would say only Saratoga and Del Mar are better than Gulfstream. Belmont has better racing but it is actually quite a dreary place most of the time.

And your sandwich at Gulfstream will only cost you the low,low price of TWENTY DOLLARS!

[TropicalStorm]

Gulfstream food is no more expensive than Saratoga, Del Mar, Belmont, or Churchill.

Like I said Gulfstream is the big leagues with top talent and just like a MLB or NFL Stadium the food is more expensive.

If you want cheap food go to WalMart right down the street from Gulfstream and bring it yourself.

Personally I don't mind paying more money for food. The people selling it have a right to make a living and nobody forces you to buy the food. If you can't afford it than don't buy it. Movie theatres charge a fortune too. If you don't like it bring your own candy. I buy it because I can afford it and I think movie theatres have a right to make money.

Tampa is a great track but it is like going to minor league baseball. It is great but most people really want to see the big league talent and enjoy first class entertainment.

But this is all opinion and for whatever reason people like to attack Stronach but he understands the days of racetracks surviving just as racetracks is over unless you want horseman to run for 10,000 purses all winter.

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by CrossfireHurricane

Tampa is a great track but it is like going to minor league baseball.

Yeah but 10-1 pays the same minor or major.

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by CrossfireHurricane

Gulfstream food is no more expensive than Saratoga, Del Mar, Belmont, or Churchill.

Like I said Gulfstream is the big leagues with top talent and just like a MLB or NFL Stadium the food is more expensive.

If you want cheap food go to WalMart right down the street from Gulfstream and bring it yourself.

Personally I don't mind paying more money for food. The people selling it have a right to make a living and nobody forces you to buy the food. If you can't afford it than don't buy it. Movie theatres charge a fortune too. If you don't like it bring your own candy. I buy it because I can afford it and I think movie theatres have a right to make money.

Tampa is a great track but it is like going to minor league baseball. It is great but most people really want to see the big league talent and enjoy first class entertainment.

But this is all opinion and for whatever reason people like to attack Stronach but he understands the days of racetracks surviving just as racetracks is over unless you want horseman to run for 10,000 purses all winter.

She didn't mention the racing product being one of her criteria. I am quite sure she is well aware of the differences in the quality of the horseflesh.

[TropicalStorm]

Originally Posted by Cardus

You mean the best 10,000 claimers in the world, right?

No, I mean the best horses from the NY and KY circuit. Barbaro, Curlin, English Channel (in an allowance race), Big Brown, Quality Road, Empire Maker, Invasor, etc.

Gulfstream gets the big league horses and the purses are pretty solid for winter racing when most trainers are not really firing on all cylinders but are regrouping for the spring, summer and fall.

[Bigsmc]

Originally Posted by GPK

Once you have spent a day at Tampa Bay Downs in the BigsMC luxury box suite, right on the finish line, there is nothing quite comparable in all of racing...much less in the State of Florida

[GPK]

Originally Posted by Bigsmc

And I didn't even mention the shear pleasure derived from the all important Double Header. That crusade in itself makes Tampa stand head and shoulders above Gulfstream!!

[IrishS]

Originally Posted by Monarchos1

Another vote here for Tampa. There's no contest when comparing the on-track experience. Gulfstream is easily the most fan-unfriendly track I've been to. No sight lines, overpriced concessions, grumpy employees and angry mutuel clerks. You can hardly find a place at GP to actually see the races live, so you're better off to enjoy a nice day at TBD and watch simulcasts of the GP races, which is what you'd be doing at GP anyway.

I need help here. I want to introduce my sister and niece to racing. My sister lives just a few miles from Gulfstream, so we will meet there on Florida Derby weekend. I am from CA and niece a vet from Maryland. I want the experience perfecd so they will continue going to the races. I have never been to Gulfstream. I hear of the problems, but what is the best way to make it a perfect experience in spite of that. Best seats, ease to the paddock--that is important--workouts? I want the whole experience for them, but I can't check and plan it out first. Help for the perfect weekend and hopefully new fans.

[gales0678]

Originally Posted by IrishS

I need help here. I want to introduce my sister and niece to racing. My sister lives just a few miles from Gulfstream, so we will meet there on Florida Derby weekend. I am from CA and niece a vet from Maryland. I want the experience perfecd so they will continue going to the races. I have never been to Gulfstream. I hear of the problems, but what is the best way to make it a perfect experience in spite of that. Best seats, ease to the paddock--that is important--workouts? I want the whole experience for them, but I can't check and plan it out first. Help for the perfect weekend and hopefully new fans.

it's a shame that calder won't be open , i'm sure that any 1st time visit to any track in america on a stakes day won't be a killer for someone new. my guess is they will probably like it

if you go on FL derby day expect big crowds at a track that was not really built for big crowds , calder can accomadate much bigger crowds

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by gales0678

it's a shame that calder won't be open , i'm sure that any 1st time visit to any track in america on a stakes day won't be a killer for someone new. my guess is they will probably like it

if you go on FL derby day expect big crowds at a track that was not really built for big crowds , calder can accomadate much bigger crowds

true but they have no reason too... nobody goes there. Its like 98% empty ever day except the Sprint Stakes day.

thats why I like it

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by IrishS

I need help here. I want to introduce my sister and niece to racing. My sister lives just a few miles from Gulfstream, so we will meet there on Florida Derby weekend. I am from CA and niece a vet from Maryland. I want the experience perfecd so they will continue going to the races. I have never been to Gulfstream. I hear of the problems, but what is the best way to make it a perfect experience in spite of that. Best seats, ease to the paddock--that is important--workouts? I want the whole experience for them, but I can't check and plan it out first. Help for the perfect weekend and hopefully new fans.

$1 drafts.

Hang out in the "beach" area and picnic tables. Explore the whole place... 2nd and 3rd floors are nice.. there is a VERY expensive asian resteraunt that is pretty good and a good place to go if you are too drunk to drive home. Poker rooms and slots also. You can get a picnic table and switch between there and the paddock seats. There is a buffet on the 2nd floor if you want to do that.

The easiest way to create a new fan for racing is to have them win a bet or two. Dont tell them who to bet though, let them pick a name or color and they will probably win with beginners luck. Explain what the odds mean and how the payouts work and the different kind of bets, but they should stick to WPS bets the first time... (then the horse can run 3rd and they can still get something back).

Its a good time, FL Derby day is PACKED though and it will be very tough to find seats I think..