The Derby Experience

[Fairmount1]

At one time, as a gambler there was nowhere I would rather play the races and seriously gamble than at Fairmount Park on a day there was no live racing where I could spread out, be in my element of deep study and focus in on all the simulcast action especially for the Big Event Days.  Richiebee has seen me in what at that time was \"my spot.\"  Since 2012 though, I\'ve had some awesome friends pry me away from the gambling obsession at Fairmount and take me to the Breeders Cup, Handicapping Contests, Oaks/Derby Days, and countless other racing related places.  My gambling experiences \"on track\" at live races have typically been subpar compared to my pre-2012 offtrack betting experiences.  

I sat in section 110.  Loved it.  If you want avoid lines of all kinds [Bathroom, food, drinks (all kinds including alcoholic), betting], I would highly recommend it.  The unlimited food and drink is included in the ticket price.  I\'ll admit the live viewing of races isn\'t great in the first turn but in exchange you can see the horses up close at the rail as they go back and forth from the barn for each race.  It is the best Derby experience from a customer standpoint I\'ve had.  And it is just my nature to watch the race on the TV feed anyway so that I can see as many nuances as possible. So the bad view of races was compensated with two days of staring at a full grandstand and the twin spires since I watched the races on TV\'s anyhow.    

My gambling overall was profitable but not by much.  I ended up betting Firing Line to win only.  I decided against the super as I ultimately believed FL (as 4th choice) with the chalkiest results seeming most likely to come in around him pushed me to take 9-1.  This was a race that afterwards I had no complaints.  My horse was beaten by the winner yet gave his everything.  Others have covered the key handicapping issues of the race.    

I truly appreciate the board especially Jcovello who probably has strong opinions about me given the discourse that takes place from time to time.  Power Alert was the key to my weekend being profitable and thanks to Jim and Richiebee for getting me to start looking deeper at this one since the Keeneland meet when the track was soft.  I looked like a genius to my friends with a 5-1 shot I assured them would be 1st or 2nd....thanks guys.  To my eye, he handled that field pretty well.  My selection for the board, Paid Up Subscriber, opened at 6-5 and paid a $4.80.  Guess I still owe you a winner Jim since he wasn\'t 5-1.  

After the Derby yesterday, I felt all in my element as the seats were mostly empty and the place felt like it was mine to focus on the last 2 races.  Cashed good on Chris Richard\'s horse to make up for FL\'s defeat.  The finale I failed as I used 6 over the 9 and 12 in tri and exacta...RudyRod got me.  I lost the race but felt I had conquered being a focused, successful better on track at the \"live event\" after many difficult experiences.  I\'m curious others experiences in this regard compared to their Living Room Downs or simulcast experiences.  It seems to be a potential area for an adept writer to conquer in a long article or a short book.  Start writing richiebee.....  

Riding home this morning, I bought a Grandstand Weekly Pass ticket along with my buddies for Whitney Weekend at Saratoga.  It will be my first time there.  Hope I get to match some names from the TG board with faces that week if you are there.  Despite being more difficult to concentrate at the live event, the atmosphere is much better for the spirit than Fairmount Park.  As for my friends that have taken me so many places with them as regular Big Day attendees..... I only first met them in 2012 just playing simulcast at Fairmount Park.  Hopefully I can return the favor to someone else one day that I meet \"at the track\" as it\'s my favorite place to be every time I go regardless of whether it is staring at the Twin Spires....or the barren grandstand at Fairmount in the middle of winter playing simulcast.

[covelj70]

So happy Power Alert came through for you

It\'s always a magical weekend down there but this year there was a little something extra!

[jp702006]

Is there anything on the Belmont day undercard for Power Alert?

[covelj70]

The Jaipur is 6f on the Turf. Grade 3. 300k purse.

Other option is Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint. Ungraded stake but same purse as Jaipur week before the Belmont. That is 5f

If he comes out well, we will pick one of those two spots.

I like 5f for him more than 6 but I will let Lynchie decide.

Maybe point to Evagelne and run there is turf is firm but if it rains there, then head to Belmont.

High class problem to have to make that decision.

[dskidmore1]

I finally got my first derby trip this year.  We arrived on Thursday and played in the grandstands; on Friday it was the Oaks and it was the infield as was Saturday. It was an experience; as a horse racing handicapping aficiando (sic) it was a disappointment.  Where were the betting machines?  The untrained tellers were frustrating and clearly a distraction. The long lines were surely a restraint to last minute betting.  I know orchestrating an event that has 170 thousand is a daunting task; but if your employees cant lead to where to buy the form or other handicapping tools there is a problem.  Overall, it was a worthwhile experience; but a plebian I think maybe my place is at Lone Star or Louisiana Downs; which seem to have a better understanding of the fact that you have to please the average bettor.  But then I realize it is ultimately a show.

[joemama]

Have been to 3 derbies years ranging from the late 70\'s to 2007.  The commercialization of the event has changed greatly during that span. At least the technology has improved since my first derby where I wanted a win and place bet but couldn\'t get my place bet in because of having to do win, place and show betting at separate windows and simply ran out of time.  In 2007 the lines were still long but at least I could get win and place bet in at 1 trip to 1 window.  I can\'t imagine what it\'s like now with the continued expansion of the complex know as Churchill Downs.  Certainly going to the Kentucky Derby is a experience I would recommend to anyone.  Would love to do 1 more except now it is soooo expensive to pull it off.

[dskidmore1]

The separate windows would have drove me crazy.  My entire complaint is that they don\'t seem to give a ____ about the bettor.  There handle was somewhere between phenomenal and poor; I am not sure.  But I know it could be better if they paid attention to it.  Maybe they do in the high dollar suites.

[TreadHead]

Would you consider Del Mar for him after that? Their sprints are all 5F and you are destined to get the firmer going he seems to like

[covelj70]

It\'s funny you mention Del Mar as I thought the same thing about that turf course and I LOVE that place

I checked through the stakes book last night and there\'s nothing in there that would be worth shipping out to run in.

Relative small purse ungraded stakes.

great minds think alike........

[TGJB]

Come on, Jim. You have a chance to run for 300 on Belmont day and you\'re thinking of getting on a and to the Bayou? Who are you kidding. Besides, you need to find out about the 6f (Canadian stakes etc).

[covelj70]

I hear you JB but we have a chance to run for 300 down in the Bayou at a distance we know he loves where he will be 4/5.  

Not really sure I want to go against Undrafted going 6f unless we have to....especially since I sort of got in Welker\'s face after the race on Friday.

It was totally unintentional (he was there with a good friend of mine who I know also had a huge 10/12 box so when I went to chest bump my buddy right after the race, I inadvertently bumped into Welker and he didn\'t seem too pleased).

now, Welker I think I can handle but he was with Gronk and all of his other boys down there so I would rather just leave well enough alone on that front.....lol

Also, if we run at Evangeline, I can be at the Belmont in shorts and a T-Shirt!

[TGJB]

Jim, seriously? Everyone you know except me is Italian. You must know a guy, and if not Miff can help you out.

You\'ve been living in the suburbs too long, taking too many helicopters. As I recall you worked your way through college as a bouncer, no?

Start working on a getting an extra paddock pass. You\'re gonna go all the way to Louisiana to avoid confrontation? Come on, man...

Have your secretary send Welker some flowers.

[miff]

Horse players and horse owners very passionate.Many brawls over the years.The Tricky Contessa bout was a classic,nary a blow landed.Indian Charlie and Dale Romans reported a classic also.

No worries Jim,Welker only knows the Boston Italians, you have the NY goombas!

[TGJB]

Indian Charlie/Romans supposedly very one sided.

[magicnight]

Julie still the standard by which racetrack fights are measured, yes?