Of these 4 tracks I have never visited...

[GoIrish]

... please prioritize them for me. I'd like to plan a trip for next year to one of the following:

Oaklawn
Keeneland
Del Mar
Santa Anita

Which is most worthy to visit first (since it might be the only opportunity I get). Base your answers on the track and racing experience only. I already know it's hard to top San Diego as an overall destination .

[Scav]

Originally Posted by GoIrish

... please prioritize them for me. I'd like to plan a trip for next year to one of the following:

Oaklawn
Keeneland
Del Mar
Santa Anita

Which is most worthy to visit first (since it might be the only opportunity I get). Base your answers on the track and racing experience only. I already know it's hard to top San Diego as an overall destination .

Jesus...

I have only not been to Oaklawn but I would probably say Keeneland as a horse racing fan and Del Mar as a people fan. Santa Anita at the BC was awesome the two years I did it but not sure how it is non BC.

[Gate Dancer]

There are no losers in this group and I've been to all except Del Mar, but if I had to prioritze it would go like this:

1) Keeneland---started the day in the track kitchen, then watching workouts. Took a brief ride around the surrounding farms before the races started and then watched Casablanca Smile take the Dowager. Overall fantastic experience. Pure horse country at its' finest.

2) Oaklawn Park---entire town revolves around the track. Saw the Arkansas Derby here many years ago. Super crowds and hospitality. Only negative is no grass racing.

3) Del Mar---on my list to get to. Looks gorgeous on TV and the crowd and climate just can't be overated.

4) Santa Anita---going to the BC this year but have been here a couple of times for regular racing. Nice place and scenery but would have to be 4th of this group in my opinion.

You can't lose with any choice you make............

[scanman]

Originally Posted by GoIrish

... please prioritize them for me. I'd like to plan a trip for next year to one of the following:

Oaklawn
Keeneland
Del Mar
Santa Anita

Which is most worthy to visit first (since it might be the only opportunity I get). Base your answers on the track and racing experience only. I already know it's hard to top San Diego as an overall destination .

1) Santa Anita
2) Keeneland
3) Del Mar
4) Oaklawn

[Calzone Lord]

The best part about Keeneland is the library.

A lot of nice looking and tastefully dressed college girls as well.

Not a fan of the food to the point where I would eat at the track kitchen instead of at the track.

I've never been compelled to visit Southern California or Arkansas.

[Gate Dancer]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

Not a fan of the food to the point where I would eat at the track kitchen instead of at the track.

Definitley agree with that............it was just more about the experience. Bobby Ussery was having breakfast just a couple of tables away.

[PatCummings]

Originally Posted by Gate Dancer

Definitley agree with that............it was just more about the experience. Bobby Ussery was having breakfast just a couple of tables away.

If you ever wanted to experience what horse racing was like in heaven, why wait...go to Keeneland.

1. Keeneland
2. Del Mar
3. Santa Anita

Never been to Oaklawn.

[Calzone Lord]

I was way more interested in the library when I was there. It's worth the trip for that alone. Old DRF chart books are all over in there. Lots of great books and great material just in those cabinet things.

The racing atmosphere was obviously good and the ivy and all of that is a cool touch -- but there was a pretentious element to it. The applause after every single race as the horses come back, the fact that burgoo is served everywhere but a lot of logical foods that are found at other tracks aren't and the ones that are were rubbish. A lot of young and well-dressed people who are only there for the social aspects.

[Brilliance]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

The best part about Keeneland is the library.

A lot of nice looking and tastefully dressed college girls as well.

Not a fan of the food to the point where I would eat at the track kitchen instead of at the track.

I've never been compelled to visit Southern California or Arkansas.

I read on another site you were moving to Cali to gamble for a living back in 2006 is this true?

[scanman]

Originally Posted by Cardus

Curious as to why you have Santa Anita over Keeneland.

Pretty much for the same reason as Steve. You can't beat the magnificent backdrop of the San Gabriel's, along with the tall palms in the infield and the unique 6 1/2 furlong grass chute. Just an awesome place to go racing.

In the case of Keeneland, I caught it on a beautiful fall day and had a fantastic experience. Tons of tradition and one of the nicest paddock's in the US. But not quite as picturesque as Santa Anita.

[jocko699]

Originally Posted by GoIrish

... please prioritize them for me. I'd like to plan a trip for next year to one of the following:

Oaklawn
Keeneland
Del Mar
Santa Anita

Which is most worthy to visit first (since it might be the only opportunity I get). Base your answers on the track and racing experience only. I already know it's hard to top San Diego as an overall destination .

I would say Del Mar is my favorite. The eye candy is a plus but the ambiance is what I like, both before, during, and after the races.

I loved my 2 visits to Kenneland and as someone posted earlier, Santa Anita on a smog-free day is a spectacular setting for racing.

I have not had a chance to visit Oaklawn yet.

[alysheba1988]

Originally Posted by GoIrish

... please prioritize them for me. I'd like to plan a trip for next year to one of the following:

Oaklawn
Keeneland
Del Mar
Santa Anita

Which is most worthy to visit first (since it might be the only opportunity I get). Base your answers on the track and racing experience only. I already know it's hard to top San Diego as an overall destination .

Best to Last:

1.) Keeneland

If your after the whole horse racing experience than it can't be beat. The place is just about perfect. The backdrop of the track is beautiful Kentucky landscape. The trees are spectacular all around the grounds. Paddock is one of a kind.

2.) Del Mar - is a close second. Tempted to make them 1A and 1B but Keeneland trumps on overall beauty. The one thing that put me off a little about Del Mar is the ugly gray artificial racing surface. It is truly ugly.

3.) Santa Anita - I think the only thing that really separates the first two from Santa Anita is the scarcity of racing dates. It takes some planning to hit Keeneland and Del Mar. Santa Anita has many more dates.

Santa Anita is a beautiful park in a spectacular setting. I love the way the downhill turf track crosses the main surface and then goes back to the turf. This is a one of a kind feature at a track in the US.

4.) Oaklawn is a distant, distant, distant fourth. Didn't like the glass walls that enclose the grandstand area. Just not for me I guess.


Sidenote. I met an Australian at the most beautiful track I've ever been to in Chantilly, France. As we chatted I learned that this guy had traveled to tracks all around the world. So as we are standing in this magnficent setting with a castle in the background. I asked what track he liked best of all he had visited. His Answer: Keeneland

[satan's twin]

1. Del Mar
2. Santa Anita










3.Keeneland (Byk's right. This is a very distant third to the other two.)
4. Oaklawn ???????????????????? This joint barely noses out Balmoral Park,
the crown jewel for nightly charriot racing in 15 degree weather.