why we love the game....

[jrajf]

As teenagers we used to hop the fence at Suffolk (sometimes stoned sometimes not) and bet the few dollars we had in our pockets. The first time I bet, my buddy and I hit a 600.00 exacta on a two dollar bet. I was rich!! I went home and gave my mother a 50.00 bill and she whacked me in the head because she thought I was dealing drugs. Needless to say we hopped the fence a bunch more times and spent many a fall weekend in the grandstand with 20 bucks or whatever. Eventually fell in love with the problem solving aspect of it..then came Rockingham on Labor day with a morning card ..glorious and also back then Wonderland Park at night was as idyllic and nice a place to be on a warm summer night as I could find. Only 60 day meets ..it was nice enough to bring a date and impress her by going to the 6.00 combo window.

and today it keeps getting better..on my couch with a laptop and TVH/HRTV..multiple Saratoga trips each summer...with buddies..then with faamily then with golf buddies..horse racing remains the center..

just wish the game had more of a future..