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#1
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#2
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For me it was around 1963, I think. I was a junior or senior in high school and lived not far from Monmouth Park. Caddied at a local golf course where many of the members owned thoroughbreds (Monmouth's signature race is named after one of them) and the older caddies all played the horses (at least they talked a good game). Shared an early morning "loop" with one of those older guys, who talked me into going to the races with him that afternoon. The minimum age for wagering was 21, and I looked much younger than my age, but no one ever raised an eyebrow when I stepped up to the window. Like you, Cal, I recall the separate windows for "bet" and "cash", and different windows depending upon how much you wanted to bet (perhaps a $2, a $5 and $50 window). They had Win, Place and Show and a Daily Double for the first two races only (designed to get patrons to the track early). I sort of remember that there were separate windows for win, place and show, but am not positive of that. The tickets were preprinted pieces of cardboard (if you bet $6 to win, you received 3 tickets for $2 each), and when you won a bet, you only received cash, no paper vouchers. At the end of the day, you usually had a pocketful of dimes since payouts that involved change only paid in dimes. After a race became official, it seemed to take a very long time for the prices to be posted - computers have changed everything. Things have sure changed since then. |
#3
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![]() [quote=JolyB;1121300]We all sound so old. {When was the first time all of you went to the track?}
I think it was 1968. About a year after I returned to Arkansas from New York and was in college in South Arkansas. Not sure when the second time was. Moved to Hot Springs in 1976. I remember those $50 windows. I guess the management didn't want the "whales" to have to stand in line with the riff raff like me. ![]() |
#4
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![]() Racing in the early days was easy. No exotics, only the daily double. I hit all the tracks in NJ at an early age from start to the end of racing in NJ. At that time it started at Garden State Park, then Monmouth, then Atlantic City and end at Garden State Park in OCT. then no more racing till next March.. Got to blame my old man for getting me into this mess. lol. Then the exactas,trifectas, twin doubles, etc. Been doing this for over 60 years and still trying to get even which will never happen but I try to give it hell to get close, and that won't happen either but this is the greatest game going. Love them ponies.
Last edited by Roamin42 : 02-01-2019 at 08:08 AM. |
#5
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![]() { still trying to get even }
Me too. I doubt that you could buy a Lamborghini with what I've lost over the years, but maybe a nice Lexus. I'll probably never see it again unless I hit something very big which is doubtful because I don't bet big enough or the right bets like the rainbow pick 6s. I'm too old and have too many health problems to have many other vices. Don't smoke or drink and now I have high blood sugar too so can't hardly even eat without assassinating myself. The only vices I'm left with are cussing and gambling and sometimes I do the two together especially when I'm losing. ![]() |
#6
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![]() GEEEEEEEZ....
U GUYS SOUND LIKE A SATURDAY NIGHT FELIX UNGER CARD GAME ![]() MOANIN + A’GROANIN... AND NOBODY’S EVEN “STONIN” ![]() BUT....ON THE BRIGHT SIDE ~ U GAVE ME SOME CHUCKLES ![]() METHINKS, YA’LL NEED SOME COLORADO CATNIP! ![]() |
#7
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![]() { YA’LL NEED SOME COLORADO CATNIP!}
Not sure what Colorado Catnip is but I heard they had some weed out there that folks buy a lot of and smoke. I could smoke some of that stuff, but it might give me the munchies which would end in my untimely demise considering my health problems, but I guess I might die with a smile on my face. ![]() |
#8
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![]() [quote=cal828;1121303]
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![]() During '70's we made many trips to Saratoga, Finger Lakes, Pocono Downs, Garden State Park and Belmont. Biggest early thrill was to see Kelso paraded at Belmont in '83 I think. Still a racing nubile, I began soaking up all the background and knowledge I could from my t-bred savant wife.
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The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse’s ears – Arabian Proverb Last edited by DonGuido : 02-02-2019 at 09:27 AM. |
#9
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![]() Don, it appears that we were both in US Army Europe at close to the same time. I spent the last half of '69 and all of '70 in Germany with a Sergeant Missile battalion, first in Darmstadt and then near Wiesbaden (overlooking the Rhine and surrounded by acre after acre of vineyards of the Rhinegau wine district), before also getting an early-out to go back to school.
The last paragraph of your post had me rolling on the floor. I don't want to even consider what it must have involved for you to have been a racing nubile. ![]() ![]() ![]() |
#10
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__________________
The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse’s ears – Arabian Proverb |
#11
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