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.
