What if Smarty is Ready to Go, but Racing Isn’t ??

[Silver Charm]

Saw Tom Durkin being interviewed on NBC Saturday during the golf on a very fortuitous for Racing rain delay. Durkin was doing a little promoting of The Big Day coming and made mention of the fact that when Secretariat posted his momentus victory there were 67,000 people in attendance, Saturday they are expecting something TWICE that.

Last week I had told a friend of mine as we were firming up plans for ourselves that I was predicting ALL KINDS OF RECORDS BEING BROKEN. Viewer Ship, Head-Count, handle, eyeballs, clicks, pops you name it.

After hearing Durkin I’m convinced I’m right and am becoming increasingly concerned that Racing itself will not be up for the task. This is the two donut sport as in when the Track General Mgr says, “What kind of day was it today”? The help respond, “A good day only two Dunkin Donuts were left in the grandstand refreshments tray”. Somewhere out there you can actually envision some Track Mgmt saying,”If we run out everything by the fifth race we can send all the help home and make out like bandits, both a good sales day and cut our labor cost in half.”

Wagering may resemble the verse from the hit Eagles song Hotel California, “You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave.” How about as in, “You can stand in line all day, but you can never get down.” There are going to be firstime starters all over the place who are going to be bringing bets out for everyone ranging from Granny and Jed Clampett, to Aunt Bea and Maude. Or even worse Maude is directly in front of you at the window when you hear Tom Durkin utter the words, “One More to Load”.

These comments are by no means restricted to Belmont Park; this is applicable to every wagering outlet in the country. I went to the Program Stand at Churchill Downs on Ky Oaks Day and the women barked, “We’re SOLD OUT go stand in line down at the other stand”. They had only run three races so far that day.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL. Put the best, most helpful, smiling face on that you have ever had Racing. You will be amazed at the results.

This could be the Second Biggest Sporting Event Day of the Year behind only the Super Bowl. I don’t think anyone really knows how big this day COULD POSSIBLY BE and Racing always has a tendency to underestimate and go cheap. Don’t be stupid BET ON YOURSELF. Even if it means you lose a few bucks, take it from the advertising budget if you have too. People will come back if they have a good time.

I advise anyone who is thinking of going TO GO, if Smarty wins you will want to say you were watching and wagering. There really is no greater fun, and in every race you have a home team if you know what I mean. This day might be as rare as seeing Haley’s Comet.

[MInfurna]

All I know is that NYRA is notoriously bad when they have big crowds. Been to enough Breeders Cups and Belmont Stakes to know they always underestimate the amount of people that will show up. I\'m sure the beting lines will be long as they will not hire enough tellers (or at least experienced ones), the beer and food will run out at some point during the card and the ATM lines will be as long as when Yankee world series tickets go on sale. This is not a day for the serious horseplayer to be at the track, unless you have a reserved seat, a phone betting account and alot of patience.

[Silver Charm]

Wrong go to the TRACKS.

It is up to them to Elevate Their Performance.

Can they do it

[Chuckles_the_Clown2]

If this Belmont were run at Arlington, I\'d definitely go. I\'d arrive as early as possible have coffee and breakfast, set up shop and if the weather looked consistent I\'d bet early and spend the time relaxed watching the races and not fighting the crowds.

[Kimmel Factor]

Chuckles I couldn\'t agree more with you. There is no way these Race Tracks with their your lucky we let you in here attitude will be prepared for Saturday.

I set-up a phone account today and went and filled out the survey on Seriousplayers.net about getting onboard. If that Lukas-loving Silver Charm thinks these tracks will be ready he is an even bigger kook than I think he is.

[TGJB]

It\'s pretty clear SC was saying the tracks will NOT be ready.

I\'ll be there. I already have my seats near the 1/8 pole. :-)

[brokerstip]

Silver,

I am going to agree and disagree.
I have been to every Belmont since Canonero II. I think I speak from experience. In my opinion, NYRA has done a good job in handling the transformation of the Belmont from a major stakes to a Major Sports Extravaganza.
Until the late 80\'s, grandstand seating was 1st come 1st served...toss a paper on a seat and it was honored. (Ah! the good old days).
As the Belmont has become an \"Event\" over the past few years and the grandstand reserved seats have gone from $4.00 to $45.00, I too have had some bad experiences.
1)Seating: I pay every Feb. when they go on sale...I never get my seats until after the Preakness (and then after we pepper them with phone calls). I am Section U row 4 this year...not too bad. ($27 each)
2) Belmont glasses- 1976 was the first year and I bought a few. 1977 -I waited until later (so as not to lug them around). Sold out! They sell for $700 each today and I haven\'t got even one!. And in 1982, I gave 4 to a cute gal next to me.(about $175 each today).
3) Seating again---How about your seat in the last row of the last section has a frame with no seat???..lol...after an hour wait on line, they replace them with two in the first section almost on the finish line?...where did they come from??) That was Easy Goer\'s year---1989.

What I have found over the past few years is that the betting lines are much more manageable. Betting machines and additional hirings seems to have abated the traditional long lines (you used to have to be in line once a race went official to even hope to get a bet in for the next race.) The Clubhouse seems to have  shorter lines than the Grandstand and it is possible to \'get down\' very close to posttime.
Concessions: I\'m just a coffee and poundcake guy upon arrival and a soft pretzel leaving. So, other than my \'Karbs R King\' diet,I have no real basis to comment on the food or lack thereof.

For me, the atmosphere...etc. etc. overshadows and outweighs any inconveniences. I try to do all my basic handicapping the day before and select what I think are the most bettable props on the card. (Pick 4, DD\'s etc. ) Try to get those bets in reasonable early and take in the day. Walk to the saddling area, check out the merchants...and look for another Balconaje......(hint: ran on the Secretariat undercard).

So, good luck Saturday...hoping Smarty trips the light fantastic.. After 33 years, I still look most forward to this day racing than any other.

Tip

Re

[OPM]

Unfortunately, they will not be ready but I am hoping they will be.  I think they booked 3 races after the Belmont which is smart since it will take 2 hrs to get out of there.  I am not going becuase there will be no place to set up your computer, the lines will be long and YOUR PHONES WILL NOT WORK, AGAIN YOUR PHONES WILL NOT WORK because the wireless carriers will not have enough cell sites available for the area.  So if you think you will be able to bet with your phone account, good luck!!!!!!

[shanahan]

the comments on Arlington handling big crowds well is truly well deserved - at BC, I never waited for anyting - bets, beer, food, the whole nine furlongs....they werer terrific!
As for Smarty...go, baby, go!  I will be taking a flight to Hot springs to watch with about 10K people on the infield big screen...Philly - you have a sister town in AR!

[OPM]

AP limited the race to people with tickets, you could not walk up and get into the track. That is not a great way to get new people into this game.

[trackjohn]

Guys:

 Some advice from someone who has been to every Belmont Stakes since 1984 (BTW, brokerstip, I do remember the \'good old days\' of 1984 - 1988 when you didn\'t need a $27 preferred grandstand seat, just a few pages of the form placed on your seat to reserve it!)

  However, that was then and this is now.

  To those fortunate enough to have seats, use your cellphone and telephone account.(OPM, you are right when you stated that the wireless carriers don\'t have enough cell sites around Elmont to carry the calls.  But over the past 4-5 years (even during the 2001 Breeders Cup at Belmont), this was a problem only during the latter part of the day.)

  Also, find out where the tiny tims are!!!.
These are only used by NYRA ONE account members who usually wager quickly. (my longest wait last year was 5 minutes).

  All these postings bring to mind a quote from Harvey Pack the day before the 1989 Belmont (Easy Goer-Sunday Silence):

 \"Remember, this is going to be an event!  It is not going to remotely resemble a normal day at the races.  IT IS AN EVENT! Try to be patient with the first-time racing fan. But above all, come out, enjoy yourself and be a part of racing history!\"

  Sounds like good advice for saturday.

  Good luck to all.

[trackjohn]

Guys:

 Some advice from someone who has been to every Belmont Stakes since 1984 (BTW, brokerstip, I do remember the \'good old days\' of 1984 - 1988 when you didn\'t need a $27 preferred grandstand seat, just a few pages of the form placed on your seat to reserve it!)

  However, that was then and this is now.

  To those fortunate enough to have seats, use your cellphone and telephone account.(OPM, you are right when you stated that the wireless carriers don\'t have enough cell sites around Elmont to carry the calls.  But over the past 4-5 years (even during the 2001 Breeders Cup at Belmont), this was a problem only during the latter part of the day.)

  Also, find out where the tiny tims are!!!.
These are only used by NYRA ONE account members who usually wager quickly. (my longest wait last year was 5 minutes).

  All these postings bring to mind a quote from Harvey Pack the day before the 1989 Belmont (Easy Goer-Sunday Silence):

 \"Remember, this is going to be an event!  It is not going to remotely resemble a normal day at the races.  IT IS AN EVENT! Try to be patient with the first-time racing fan. But above all, come out, enjoy yourself and be a part of racing history!\"

  Sounds like good advice for saturday.

  Good luck to all.

[OPM]

Trackjohn: our paths must have crossed on many occasions since I was there for all those races.  I remeber the Danzig Connection one very well since the track was a sea of slop and all you had to do was get the lead, had 7 winners that day.  You\'re right, all you had to do was get there early and put your old racing form on those seats(upper tier of course).  But honestly, it got too risky if you know what I mean.  I am glad they only charge $2 to get in and maybe the everyday player will get their due when their are point rewards for being an NYRA One member and you get your first choice of seats.

[trackjohn]

OPM:

  I\'am sure our paths have crossed over the years. (good recollection on Danzig Connection!)

  NYRA does give a moderate preference for seats (earlier mailing of seat applications, etc.) to those NYRA One members who have used their accounts within the past 6 - 9 months.  I have been successful in getting excellent seats (Section 3P and Section 3O, which are about 40 yards from the finish line) for the past 10 years.

  BTW, you are right.  Paying for the seats (and the minimally increased security in the grandstand) has made for a \"safer environment\"!

  Regards