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#1
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#2
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![]() I heard somewhere that there were "opportunities abundant" for the informed horseplayer during the first few weeks after the opening. Would make sense but didn't know whether or not it was true.
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"God have mercy on the man who doubts what he's sure of." - Bruce Springsteen |
#3
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![]() Quote:
I've heard nice things about Birmingham's racing days. I suppose as many people recall it as do the Birmingham Bulls! ![]() ![]()
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All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. ~ George Orwell, 1984. |
#4
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![]() http://articles.latimes.com/1987-08-...8_1_race-track
Beyer from 1987.. Interesting sidebar inside the piece: In a speech he recently gave in Lexington, Ky., about expansion of racing into new states, Killingsworth said that wagering has been increasing at Birmingham, but he conceded that he had made a mistake--"and nobody forgets your mistakes." Killingsworth evidently overlooked a crucial point that author Eugene Christiansen made before the American Horse Council's convention in Washington last month. "It is impossible for a new track in a virgin market to perform as well as comparable tracks in mature markets right out of the gate," Christiansen said. "No form of gambling is as difficult to learn as horse racing. It takes time to make new horseplayers. It takes years." That point can't be reiterated enough...
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All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. ~ Joseph Conrad A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right. ~ Thomas Paine Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams can't come true. They are only afraid that theirs won't and yours will. ~ Robert Evans The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. ~ George Orwell, 1984. |
#5
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![]() I was 19 at the time, but they did a lot of carding, especially when you cashed. It was pretty crazy. They'd let you bet, then card you if you won. I always got paid eventually. I spent two weeks there visiting. I remember meeting Dave Johnson and Chris Lincoln who were there for ESPN. Hard to believe they covered a race like the Alabama Derby back then.
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#6
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![]() Quote:
Birmingham attracted some pretty nice horses for its first meet. Up The Appalachee, Queen Alexandra, and Weekend Delight all ran in stakes there.
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Still trying to outsmart me, aren't you, mule-skinner? You want me to think that you don't want me to go down there, but the subtle truth is you really don't want me to go down there! |
#7
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![]() Yes, I should have said it more like "it is hard to imagine ESPN covering a race like that now". I still have painful memories of my favorite all-time horse Broad Brush losing to Cheapskate in Minnesota!
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#8
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![]() I saw the Dead in Birmingham in 95, and went to the track, but it was Dog Racing ( and simulcasting ) by then.
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Just more nebulous nonsense from BBB |
#9
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![]() Lost a transmission in the parking lot and had to stay an extra two days. I believe I ended up $305 with a $760 repair bill.
The racing was basic to say the least, but it was racing.
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Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things. |
#10
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![]() Quote:
Alas those days for Canterbury are long gone. ![]() |
#11
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![]() I was there on the first day the track opened for business and have been present on every opening day since then. Still a regular weekend warrior, but I do miss the caliber of racing that existed the first few years the place was open.
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