Originally Posted by
str
With the stay at home and bet options seemingly growing everyday, attendance has indeed taken a big hit. Not people watching and wagering though.
It is tough for anyone like yourself that used to see the big crowds especially on big days from back in the day to see seemingly empty grandstands and paddocks. I feel the same way as you. I guess it's the nostalgia of yesteryear as well as what we subconsciously expect.
But handle and people watching is waaay up from those days. You don't have to drive there anymore. You can bet from home and play multiple tracks. ( Betting multiple tracks is something I will never get used to. It's just the way I learned. Heck, when I ran a horse out of town but stayed in Md. I would have to call on the phone, talk to someone in the racing office and ask them where I finished. Or, drive to Monmouth Park , about 8-9 hours roundtrip to see my horse run.
It's a different world for sure but not necessarily a worse one. I think that once us old timers aren't around to complain and pine for the good ole days, it will be the normal function which will allow more people to bet and get involved in racing. Not that I'm looking forward to that. Lol.
Gone are the days of having to attend to play other than a bookmaker over the phone who would cut you off if you showed a profit after a while. The funny thing is, when I was at Laurel last May 1st for a reunion of racetrack workers like old jocks, trainers, grooms, etc. from the 70's thru I guess the 2000's , it was a Sunday.
And when I walked around the grandstand and clubhouse mid card, places like the actual grandstand were really empty. Dining room had plenty of people but incredibly the most people I saw were gathered in the sports bar area where they could watch multiple big screens.
The actual viewing of the horses in person was sparse at best. The paddock area was very thin as well. Man, it was a zoo getting out of the paddock back in the day on weekends as you alluded to.
One thing I noticed ( on TV this summer ) was that Saratoga was like the olden days with the crowd at the paddock and throughout the grandstand.
So here is what I would suggest as we both are probably about the same age and certainly are used to the old school track style. Plan on playing Saratoga if you can for the entire meet. If you can go, awesome. But if not, watch it from home. There will be big crowds and everything we wish we could still always see. But for the other tracks, don't let it get you down. Just know that what is happening is the new normal and we have to conform to it. Find a track you feel confident in. Be it Gulfstream, Fair Grounds or whatever. I don't know your handicapping style but if you like longer prices, I would suggest Oaklawn. If you enjoy favorites, find a place you are most comfortable.
The key to almost anything IMO is being comfortable with it and a feeling that you have a pulse on it. Find that and your track experience will immediately improve whether you are watching on TV or you are at the track.
I wish you luck with that.
Thanks for the question !
I hope my answer helped at least somewhat.