Breeder's Cup Tickets

[banditbeau]

Anyone have any good suggestions as to the best seats for your money at Santa Anita - Breeder\'s Cup tickets out today?

bb

[jp702006]

I just bought 2 tickets on the trackside marquee, 2nd level. They were $325 each. I am going Friday only. This will be my first cup. I wanted seats in the clubhouse or a box, but didn\'t want to spend $550 a ticket to share a table in the clubhouse. I was a little surprised that so many seats were sold out already. Maybe the veteran cup goers can explain this a little better.

[lovetwogamble]

Take it from a fan who has been to several Breeders Cups and every one in California, and from Louisville to Chicago to Canada to Gulfstream Park in clubhouses and luxury boxes at the finish lines et al.   Unless you absolutely need the \"luxury angle\" or for some reason due to health must sit down, I don\'t think any inflated Breeders\' Cup seat price is worth it. (Just my opinion.)

We have successfully enjoyed ourselves with general admission tix in California and even in the infield, there is plenty to see and enjoy at Santa Anita.  (Plus I\'m one of those handicappers that absolutely needs to see the horses in saddling ring, so if I had a seat, I would be \"Up and Down\" any way.)

In April of this year on Santa Anita Derby Day, I was a special guest at the  New Chandelier Room, and watched California Chrome win the SA Derby from this luxury venue.  While the room is absolutely breathtaking, I was amazed at the $2600 price tag the Breeders Cup is asking for these two days, (and if you do choose this option, please be aware it doesn\'t include a seat.)  But again, I\'ll tell you, the room and the ambience is spectacular, (think the Great Gasby with live music and staff bringing hor d\'oeuvres and drinks around for your convenience.)  If \"luxury\" is your thing, go for it!!!  

The grandstand seats are your \"run-of-the-mill\" variety with further down the stretch you go the less expensive.  Club house and Turf Club seats are nice, but again, call me cheap, I would rather put the 2 grand in my betting bankroll before shelling out for these seats.

With that being said, and I understand you \"East Coasters\" probably would disagree about this for me General admission or at the very least a basic entry into the clubhouse is the way to go.  I\'ll forgo the seat because on Breeders Cup Day there is so much to see and explore, and again, I\'m up and down anyway.

If you do choose this option, keep in mind that earlier this year, Santa Anita ran a promotion where everyone in attendance on a certain day, got a free Friday Breeders Cup general admission ticket.  I was able to pick up a couple of these on EBay for about $10 bucks each.  I am thinking last year\' General Admission was $25 on Breeders Cup Saturday.  (Or it may have been $40 not sure), but its a far cry from the $600 to $2,000 they are asking for seats.

One last note. . .  if you do decide to pay for Upgraded tickets . . . enjoy, but the FIRST THING you must put on your BC Bucket list is to get up early and visit Clockers Corner for some trackside breakfast and Calfornia hospitality on either BC Friday or Saturday morning.  Then the absolute LAST THING you must do after the Saturday Breeders\' Cup is to truck on over to the 100-1 Club which is a bar just east of the Racetrack for some serious post race entertainment.  There, we will either \"drown our sorrows\" or pull a \"Wes Welker\" and buy every one we just met in the bar, a drink.    God knows, I\'ll be there at the end of the bar again this year regradless.  

Good luck.

[jp702006]

You\"ll have to give me some tips for entertainment/food when the event gets closer. My wife thinks we are going on vacation, I just haven\'t told her where we are going:) Hence, why I am only going Friday and not both days. I think my location for views etc. will be ok and I should be able to keep the wife entertained for 6hrs.......

[Marlin]

I\'ve attended many Cups @ many venues.  If you love to bet horses, drink beer, eat food then stay away from the Breeder\'s Cup!  They just can\'t seem to get it right.  The Cup was much better in the late 80\'s & early 90\'s as to the activities I listed above.  Living Room Downs for me, as boycotting the Cup since Lone Star in 2004.  They just can\'t seem to handle the big crowds.  I are really pissed when I missed Arazi in the Juvenile @ CD trying to get a fricken hot dog!

[lovetwogamble]

JP . . . here\'s a tip, and one a group of guys and I did this past Derby Day.  We were in Vegas and on Derby Day sent the women on an all-day spa trip.  While we gambled at the sports book, they were in heaven getting facials, pedicures, manicures and massages plus an occasional Mimosa.  

They showed up dressed to the 9s an hour before post time, all relaxed and had a great time.

Enjoy the day Friday with the misses, and then casually suggest on Saturday she take a trip to the the Langham Hotel in Pasadena and enjoy their Spa, while you slave away at the races on Saturday.  It\'ll probably cost less than a seat in the long run.

Of course you could always explain it the way I did with my kids.  For years when we would take our annual Southern California summer trip, I would drop my wife and young children off for a day at Disneyland.  When one of my kids asked, \"why I never came to Disneyland?\" I told her that Daddy was going to his \"Happiest Place on Earth . .  the racetrack!!!!!\"

[P-Dub]

I\'ve been to Santa Anita many times, including 4 or 5 Breeders\' Cups.

I like having a seat, and the best bang for your buck is in the Grandstand. I prefer below the walkway, as the pillars obstruct your view a bit if you sit above the walkway.  Most years I sit in Section M, its between the 1/8 and 1/16 and gives you a great view of the stretch run.  This year I got a couple a few sections down for $100 less per ticket for both days than Section M. For both days its $200 per ticket ($125 Saturday, $75 Friday).

I don\'t believe you can get into the clubhouse unless you purchase a ticket, most of the boxes are reserved for connections. If you don\'t have a reserved seat, you are restricted from going into the grandstand or clubhouse.

As lovetwogamble said, there is lots to see on BC day. For some, a GA ticket is good enough.  You can wander around, visit the paddock, whatever. During the races you can try a find a place on the trackside apron.  

To answer JPs question, the trackside marquee seats and similar sell fast. People like the \"event\" feel of these seats.  They have separate bathrooms, mutuel clerks, food, drink, etc..  Its quite a bit more convenient than your regular grandstand seat, and also costs more. Depends on how much you want to spend, and how much you value the extra stuff.  I have never had a problem using the facilities, making a bet, or getting food in the grandstand.

[Wrongly]

Just think how crowded Keeneland is going to be!  Fantastic track but the crowd is going to make that day a nightmare.

[skitimber]

Likely going to BC Challenge this year and looking for someone to be my guest on either Friday, Saturday or both days.  My wife will not enjoy flight out, red eye back, 2 days with me holed up studying in hotel and 2 days at the track (unless I win.)  I\'ll be donating anything I get for the second seat to charity, and all I ask in return is one guaranteed winner each day.  Buffet included as well as all other perks I\'ll get for taking part in the challenge.

(Kidding about the winner, not about the charity.)

Anyone interested, feel free to get in touch.

[KK4510]

jp,  Just let your wife know that there is a great shopping mall on the west side of Santa Anita\'s parking lot.

[jp702006]

I will do that. Hopefully I can cash a few tickets before she decides to go shopping!