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General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: Bitter Truth on October 23, 2023, 02:01:40 PM
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I sense that something like this has been done before but during a recent discussion with a Mr Campbell, it was brought into question whether I had ever even been to a track. That caused me to think back and compile a list of the 'MANY' tracks I 'HAVE' been to. He has since labeled me a 'YAHOO' from Ohio. Strange how some talk of Ohio like we just got indoor pluming, when in reality there are some of the largest investments in the USA in play. Intel, Amazon are building 'BILLION' dollar plants in central Ohio. Take into account the vast number of pro sports and great colleges , Pro FB hall of fame, RR hall of fame, two great amusement parks, great State parks. it's clear that is a mistaken stereotype. Take a poll and ask whether you'd rather live in Ohio or NJ ngc3 ngc3 The results would be quite lopsided. Frankly, I expect this topic might be met with the understandable reaction"WHO CARES" and plummet down the board but hey, I put together the list so here goes.
Harness tracks: Canada:Windsor, Mohawk,Woodbine, Flamboro,Clinton, Western Fair,Sarnia, Woodstock Ill. :Maywood, DuQuoin Indy: Hoosier Ky: Red Mile Pa.:Meadows,Pocono, Harrah's[Chester at the time] NJ: m[1], Feehold MIch.:Hazel Park Mass.:Foxboro Finally Ohio: Lebanon, Raceway Park, Miami Valley, Dayton, Nfld. Scioto Ohio Fairs:Tiffin,Lima, Greeneville,Wapakoneta,Springfield,Delaware,Marion,Bucyrus,Marysville,Hilliard,London,Richwood,Mansfield,Kenton, Upper Sandusky
T-Breds: Calif.:Santa Anita La.: Evangeline Downs Ky: Keeneland NH:Rockingham Mass:Suffolk Canada: Woodbine Ohio:Buelah Park, River Downs
Dogs: AZ:Pheonix Greyhound Park, Cherokee Ark: West Memphis Mass:Wonderland, Rayhnam[south of Boston, possibly in R,I,?] NH: Seabrook WV: Wheeling...So yes, I have seen a few come down the pike..Where you been?
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Harness - YR, RR, Meadowlands, Freehold, Garden State Park, Dover, Harrington, Liberty Bell, Freestate, Rosecroft, Pocono, Scioto, Fairmount Park, Maywood, Sportsmans, Monticello, Buffalo, Batavia, Vernon, Monticello, Sartoga,Greenwood, Woodbine, Green Mountain, Rockingham, Foxboro, Plainridge, Narragansett ( as an infant ), Scarborough, Bangor, Hinsdale and at least 15 New England/Maine fairs - raced at least once at almost every one I listed
Tbred - Aqueduct, Belmont, Saratoga, Pimlico, Suffolk, Charlestown and there used to be a tiny 4 across track in the Berkshires on Rte 7 in Mass.
Dogs - Plainfield and Hinsdale
I'm out!
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Listed Monti 2x - oops
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Well there was the old MR and the one still open today. 2Xs sounds correct 11.wp
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tmbz1 CUTE!
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I don’t want to get carpal tunnel so I will just add some tracks I’ve been to that haven’t been listed yet. Let’s begin with White City dogs outside of London, England. It’s closed nowadays but in 1974 it was all grass racing and even had 2 hurdle races. Then I was at a bachelor party that lasted a week in El Paso, TX. Over the boarder to the Juarez dogs where I hit a last race $100 exacta. All the guys made me buy a round of drinks at the Juarez White Lakes bar. I think it cost $12 to buy the round for 10 guys. Then everyone got vaseline jobs upstairs from from local ladies. How about El Commandante thoroughbreds in San Juan, PR. Started at 2:30 with lots of 3 horse races. That was on my honeymoon in the mid-70s. This isn’t a track per se but I went to an OTB in Hamilton, Bermuda with my father. There were a lot more screaming fans there than most harness track attendance we have today. Racing was from South Africa, South America and dog racing from Ireland. Finally I give you the Seaport Casino/OTB in Aruba. There I would bet dog races from West Pam Beach and thoroughbreds from Maronas Race Track in Uraguay S.A. Lots of fans but they maxed payouts there. Yes I’ve been to almost every track previously mentioned but I will add Hialeah, Old Gulfstream and the new version, Calder, Tampa Bay Downs, Pompano and most dog tracks in Florida.
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Harness - YR, RR, Meadowlands, Freehold, Garden State Park, Dover, Harrington, Liberty Bell, Freestate, Rosecroft, Pocono, Scioto, Fairmount Park, Maywood, Sportsmans, Monticello, Buffalo, Batavia, Vernon, Monticello, Sartoga,Greenwood, Woodbine, Green Mountain, Rockingham, Foxboro, Plainridge, Narragansett ( as an infant ), Scarborough, Bangor, Hinsdale and at least 15 New England/Maine fairs - raced at least once at almost every one I listed
Tbred - Aqueduct, Belmont, Saratoga, Pimlico, Suffolk, Charlestown and there used to be a tiny 4 across track in the Berkshires on Rte 7 in Mass.
Dogs - Plainfield and Hinsdale
I'm out!
You must have been to Goshen ... I can't believe I've been to tracks you haven't. Goshen, Pompano, Northfield, Flamboro, Brandywine, The Meadows, along with the usual East Coast.
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I'm very fortunate to have been to more than half of the tracks others have listed plus quite a few in Canada. At least half are no longer around.
I also have visited Solvalla in Sweden and Hippodrome in Moscow (more than once). My main takeaway from Hippodrome was it was the most disgusting men's room I have ever visited (and smelled) in my life.
There were a few horses at Hippodrome with American blood but not shockingly none were standouts. In 1966 two Russian horses, one Hanover bred and one Russian bred visited a few tracks in the US. They were Apex Hanover (by Stars Pride) and Osmon. Both had Russian drivers. Apex Hanover won at Batavia Downs with master driver Maria Burdova. The event drew a significant crowd, most rooting for the local horses to beat the "bad" Soviet connections.
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Thx for the unexpected feedback gentleman...So where you choosin to live if you had to choose?..Ohio or New Jersey?
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Harness Only
Hinsdale
Rockingham
Scarborough
Plainridge
Pocono
Chester
Meadowlands
Mohawk
Saratoga
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I posted on another board last year. Broke down into a few threads.
THESE ARE JUST DEFUNNT TRACKS. With my memories of each
Okay, In no particular order and memories attached to each.
Geez....Is this list the sign of a degenerate or what? I was lucky enough to do lots of business and personal travel and often planned trips around racetracks. This is just harness and thoroughbreds, I I added greyhound tracks it would get ridiculous
1. Roosevelt Raceway...Where it all began, where it ISN'T today.
So true....where my life as a degenerate began...Apt logo for generations of us.
2. Freestate/ Laurel Raceway...not to be confused with Laurel racecourse. Nothing special about this place other than it was close to Columbia MD where I moved in the late '70s
3.Bowie Racecourse...Cold Weather racing....Follow the signs to Glen Bernie...Spent many weekends there with my neighbor Victor. Tough being single and having another horse player living right next door. Days at Bowie nights at the PUB in Columbia MD ( when Freestate was coosed of course)
4. FreeState/Foxboro race course....Stoppin g ground down Route 1 in the 6 months I lived in Easton Ma.
5. Hinsdale...Would make the trek to Hinsdale many Sundays from Ma. when I lived there. One day they had the NH lottery Grand Prize there and finalists were given number 1-8 with the grand prize going to the winner of the designated race.
6. Rockingham Park...One of my favorites. Always combined a family trip here with time at Canobie Lake
7. Scarboro Downs...recently closed. I would rent a cabin for a month at Old Orchard Beach. Days at the beach...Nights at Scabby Downs. WATCH THE MOSQUITOS
to be continued....
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....continued
8. Suffolk Downs. No trip to Boston was complete without a trip to Suffolk Downs. I would book a room at the Holiday Inn up the road and make sure I booked the last flight out of Logan so I could spend a few races at Suffolk.
9. Marshfield Fair...I remember playing a wheel spinning game and winning a Cabbage Patch Kid. I could not bring only 1 home so I had to find 2 other to bring to each of my kids. Problem was they were hard to come by.
10. Northhampton Fair 3 County Fair...Always combined with a trip the Basketball Hall of Fame.
11. Great Barrington Fair....Loved the infield and close-up paddock. Who needed Saratoga? Head up the Taconic and spend a great day in the country
12. Atlantic City Racecourse....tro tter and flats...Loved all the brick. Had character
13. Hialeah...During it's demise it was still beautiful. I recall the rail being so dead all jocks stayed 15 paths ( at least) off the rail
Heading out West
14. Hollywood Harness and Flats watched races upstairs at top of the stretch. There was an elderly black fellow with a booming voice who would break out into a chorus of "HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD" whenever he hit a race. On a sad note I was also there when harness drive Shelly Goudreau died on the track due to a spill.
15 Pomona...Moved to California in 1981 and this was my first stop. I lived this bullring. First time I saw mixed breed racing. First time I tried Nachos with Jalapenos...Yummy
16. Longacres....Love d the place
17 Yakima Meadows...Derby Day 1989....What a great surprise driving here and suddenly heading down into the Yakima Valley and this quaint racetrack.
to be continued
Boomer is online now Report Post Reply With Quote
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18. Bay Meadows.... First time to a 1/4 horse meet and I hit the p6.
19. Agua Caliente...was like going back in time. Live white tiger on the lawn and adjacent racebook was totally unaytomated. Hand writte ticked and guy up on a plank posting results with chalk.
moving back inland
20. Prescott Downs...What a great town Prescott is. Everyone at the track had cowboy hats and boots on. To get from the parking lot to the track you rode in a tractor. Lots of fun
21. Sydney Harness...Victori a British Columbia....Weeke nd in Victoria B and B. Fun little track
22. Trinity Meadows... brief paramutual meet seemed to have proceeded the building of other track in Texas. Lots of locals, lots of noise , lost of fun
23. Centennial Racetrack...Color odo...also lots of cowboys
Moving back to the midwest
24.Saginaw Racetrack...One of many fun little Michigan Tracks that unfortunately closed.
25....Sports Creek Racetrack....in Swatz Creek Michigan...Great bar in the middle of the grandstand. Man was it cold at that meet. Needed alcohol to stay warm.
26. Raceway Park...Another fun harness track in Toledo for minor league racing
27. Detroit...I recall seeing the backstretch from the hotel I booked near the track. There was a snowstorm and I was prating they would not canel. They didn't
28 . Maywood...1/2 mile track outside Chicago. Love 1/2 races...knowledge able players
29 Balmoral...Mile harness racing outside Chicago. Took a long time to get there and that is all I recall
30. Sporstmans Park....Why was there a track across the street from Hawthorne?
31. Arlington Park....Tried to schedule trips to Chicago around the Friday Afternoon happy hour PostTime. Lots of happy people including me.
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continued
32. Thunder Ridge Raceway....In the middle of appalachia. $5.00 win bet would make a horse 1-9 as 1/2 the field would not be covered. Not far from Loretta Lynn hometown and Jenny Riley Park. Unexpectedly great family trip
33. Bluegrass Downs...Old empty step back in time. But Paducah was a great little find. On the Mississippi River and a stop for the cruise boats. We were lucky to be there on a weekend chock full of street entertainment and live bands.
34. Windsor Ontario...not very impresssive, but we were stopped by US customs because the agent seemed pissed because we went across the border to gamble when they had a casino in downtown Detroit. Thet actually searched our car..
35 Beulah Race course...Beulah Twins of course. I was there on a pouring rain day and all the locals advised me to play only outside horses. Rail took every race.
36. Calder....Hot Hot Hot
37. Garden State Park...A shame, state of the art sound system plating great oldies.
38...Arizona...Th ere were a couple of weekend meets in Arizona I went to but I cannot recall the names.
39. Harold Park Australia...Harne ss track. You can bet with bookies or parimutuel. I took a cab there from the intercontinental hotel in Sydney. But There were no cabs to get me back. Finally asked a guy on the street for a ride.
I am sure there are more that I forgot. What a life. But you don't hear me complaining.
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Like most here, many.
But ill add the ones I went to..that are no more.
-Sackville Downs Nova Scotia
-Blue Bonnets or if you prefer later, Hippodrome du Montreal
-Richilieu Park summer racing outside of Montreal
-Greenwood Raceway Toronto
-Barrie Raceway, Barrie Ontario
-Garden City, St Catherines Ont.
-Woodstock Raceway, Woodstock, Ontario
-Elmira Raceway, Ontario (Grand River Elora Ontario came from it)
-Windsor Raceway, Windsor, Ontario
-Hazel Park, Detroit area
-Garden State, New Jersey
-Scarborough Downs, Maine
-Seabrook Greyhounds, Seabrook, NH (now otb/sports)
-Pompano Park, Florida
-Derby Lane Greyhounds, Tampa
-Hollywood Greyhounds, Fla.
-Dania Jai Alai, Dania Beach Fla Fronton
..all gone
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Tiny correction on your list Jc. The jai alai fronton was in Dania not close by Ft. Lauderdale. As of the most recent season Dania still has games but very few people attend. The fronton is a much reduced size as is Miami Jai Alai. They wanted the space to expand their casinos. All the Florida dog tracks are casino and simulcast centers since dog racing was outlawed.
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Some that I don't see mentioned are New Hamburg, Ontario on Civic Holiday every year. In Quebec we went to Three Rivers, Sherbrooke and Quebec City. In Kentucky we went to Latonia and Louisville Downs.
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God i almost forgot the another one around these parts that is no more
Woodbine Harness , Woodbine Race track Etobicoke
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You must have been to Goshen ... I can't believe I've been to tracks you haven't. Goshen, Pompano, Northfield, Flamboro, Brandywine, The Meadows, along with the usual East Coast.
I am embarrassed to admit I forgot to list the mecca. The haloed ground that is GOSHEN. Yes. I've been there including this past July The other you listed I have never been to.
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I'm very fortunate to have been to more than half of the tracks others have listed plus quite a few in Canada. At least half are no longer around.
I also have visited Solvalla in Sweden and Hippodrome in Moscow (more than once). My main takeaway from Hippodrome was it was the most disgusting men's room I have ever visited (and smelled) in my life.
There were a few horses at Hippodrome with American blood but not shockingly none were standouts. In 1966 two Russian horses, one Hanover bred and one Russian bred visited a few tracks in the US. They were Apex Hanover (by Stars Pride) and Osmon. Both had Russian drivers. Apex Hanover won at Batavia Downs with master driver Maria Burdova. The event drew a significant crowd, most rooting for the local horses to beat the "bad" Soviet connections.
I remember Apex Hanover.
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18. Bay Meadows.... First time to a 1/4 horse meet and I hit the p6.
19. Agua Caliente...was like going back in time. Live white tiger on the lawn and adjacent racebook was totally unaytomated. Hand writte ticked and guy up on a plank posting results with chalk.
moving back inland
20. Prescott Downs...What a great town Prescott is. Everyone at the track had cowboy hats and boots on. To get from the parking lot to the track you rode in a tractor. Lots of fun
21. Sydney Harness...Victori a British Columbia....Weeke nd in Victoria B and B. Fun little track
22. Trinity Meadows... brief paramutual meet seemed to have proceeded the building of other track in Texas. Lots of locals, lots of noise , lost of fun
23. Centennial Racetrack...Color odo...also lots of cowboys
Moving back to the midwest
24.Saginaw Racetrack...One of many fun little Michigan Tracks that unfortunately closed.
25....Sports Creek Racetrack....in Swatz Creek Michigan...Great bar in the middle of the grandstand. Man was it cold at that meet. Needed alcohol to stay warm.
26. Raceway Park...Another fun harness track in Toledo for minor league racing
27. Detroit...I recall seeing the backstretch from the hotel I booked near the track. There was a snowstorm and I was prating they would not canel. They didn't
28 . Maywood...1/2 mile track outside Chicago. Love 1/2 races...knowledge able players
29 Balmoral...Mile harness racing outside Chicago. Took a long time to get there and that is all I recall
30. Sporstmans Park....Why was there a track across the street from Hawthorne?
31. Arlington Park....Tried to schedule trips to Chicago around the Friday Afternoon happy hour PostTime. Lots of happy people including me.
Great Barrington is the track on Rte 7 in Berkshires I was referring to. Weird place. TY!
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SAD!
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I don’t want to get carpal tunnel so I will just add some tracks I’ve been to that haven’t been listed yet. Let’s begin with White City dogs outside of London, England. It’s closed nowadays but in 1974 it was all grass racing and even had 2 hurdle races. Then I was at a bachelor party that lasted a week in El Paso, TX. Over the boarder to the Juarez dogs where I hit a last race $100 exacta. All the guys made me buy a round of drinks at the Juarez White Lakes bar. I think it cost $12 to buy the round for 10 guys. Then everyone got vaseline jobs upstairs from from local ladies. How about El Commandante thoroughbreds in San Juan, PR. Started at 2:30 with lots of 3 horse races. That was on my honeymoon in the mid-70s. This isn’t a track per se but I went to an OTB in Hamilton, Bermuda with my father. There were a lot more screaming fans there than most harness track attendance we have today. Racing was from South Africa, South America and dog racing from Ireland. Finally I give you the Seaport Casino/OTB in Aruba. There I would bet dog races from West Pam Beach and thoroughbreds from Maronas Race Track in Uraguay S.A. Lots of fans but they maxed payouts there. Yes I’ve been to almost every track previously mentioned but I will add Hialeah, Old Gulfstream and the new version, Calder, Tampa Bay Downs, Pompano and most dog tracks in Florida.
My wife and I jetted off to San Juan just this year for a 25th anniversary trip. I do recall El Commandante but today it races under a different name. We saw billboards for it but ventured no where near it. We stayed in Old San Juan at El Covento. Great trip - hot as Hades in June!
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Thoroughbreds –38
Turf Paradise
Santa Anita
Hollywood Park
Agua Caliente
Mexico City
Panama
Puerto Rico
Lone Star Park
Fair Grounds
Calder
Hialeah
Tropical Park
Gulfstream
Churchill Downs
Parx
Garden State
Aqueduct
Belmont
Finger Lakes
Mountaineer
Thisledown
Pres Quille
River Downs
Pinnacle
Detroit Race Course
Keeneland
Blue Bonnets
Rockingham
Greenwood
Woodbine
Fort Erie
Penn National
Charles Town
Listowel (Ire)
Chepstow (GB)
Brighton (GB)
Monmouth
Saratoga
Standardbreds –54
Greenwood (Old Woodbine)
Woodbine
Mohawk
Western Fair
Windsor
Hiawatha
Goderich
Kincardine
Owen Sound
Hanover
Clinton
Dresden
Woodstock
Garden City
Flamboro
Kingston
Kawartha
Sudbury
Georgian
Elmira
Grand River
Orangeville
Barrie
Rideau Carleton
Richelieu
Charlottetown
Northlands
Stampede Park
Los Alamitos
Pompano
Roosevelt
Yonkers
Monticello
Saratoga Harness
Green Mountain
Vernon Downs
Batavia
Buffalo
Meadowlands
Freehold
Northfield
Northville
Hazel Park
Sportscreek
Saginaw
Raceway Park
Scioto
Red Mile
Louisville
Lebanon
Meadows
Pocono
Garden State
Delaware OH
Peterborough
Greyhounds – 7
Hollywood Greyhound
Flagler KC
Dublin (Ire)
Phoenix KC
Derby Lane
Miami Beach KC
Wheeling KC
Total 99 + Ohsweken = 100
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Thoroughbreds –38
Turf Paradise
Santa Anita
Hollywood Park
Agua Caliente
Mexico City
Panama
Puerto Rico
Lone Star Park
Fair Grounds
Calder
Hialeah
Tropical Park
Gulfstream
Churchill Downs
Parx
Garden State
Aqueduct
Belmont
Finger Lakes
Mountaineer
Thisledown
Pres Quille
River Downs
Pinnacle
Detroit Race Course
Keeneland
Blue Bonnets
Rockingham
Greenwood
Woodbine
Fort Erie
Penn National
Charles Town
Listowel (Ire)
Chepstow (GB)
Brighton (GB)
Monmouth
Saratoga
Standardbreds –54
Greenwood (Old Woodbine)
Woodbine
Mohawk
Western Fair
Windsor
Hiawatha
Goderich
Kincardine
Owen Sound
Hanover
Clinton
Dresden
Woodstock
Garden City
Flamboro
Kingston
Kawartha
Sudbury
Georgian
Elmira
Grand River
Orangeville
Barrie
Rideau Carleton
Richelieu
Charlottetown
Northlands
Stampede Park
Los Alamitos
Pompano
Roosevelt
Yonkers
Monticello
Saratoga Harness
Green Mountain
Vernon Downs
Batavia
Buffalo
Meadowlands
Freehold
Northfield
Northville
Hazel Park
Sportscreek
Saginaw
Raceway Park
Scioto
Red Mile
Louisville
Lebanon
Meadows
Pocono
Garden State
Delaware OH
Peterborough
Greyhounds – 7
Hollywood Greyhound
Flagler KC
Dublin (Ire)
Phoenix KC
Derby Lane
Miami Beach KC
Wheeling KC
Total 99 + Ohsweken = 100
Frank has been around. Awesome list! tmbz1
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Harness Only
Hinsdale
Rockingham
Scarborough
Plainridge
Pocono
Chester
Meadowlands
Mohawk
Saratoga
fox bourough
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27. Detroit...I recall seeing the backstretch from the hotel I booked near the track. There was a snowstorm and I was prating they would not canel. They didn't
Would that be DRC / Wolverine?
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Would that be DRC / Wolverine?
Detroit Racecourse...Thor oughbreds. I can still feel that snowstorm
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Whoa!!! Frank stunningly impressive list, but no Buelah Park? ngc3 Used to see Pete Rose there many many moons ago.
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SAD!
You have no idea how sad until you watch this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ORDVJyIq3s
I used to head up the Taconic with my kids. Great rides and games as well. Plus awesome infield. I would go to GBF instead os Saratoga.
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All previously listed plus a few not mentioned
Baltimore Raceway
Lincoln Downs
Georgetown Raceway
Ocean Downs
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Rideau Carleton, loved Ottawa....Slots Trots & Jackpots
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All previously listed plus a few not mentioned
Baltimore Raceway
Lincoln Downs
Georgetown Raceway
Ocean Downs
Baltimore trotting races...wow no offense but you must be old.
Where you around to see the Hilltop at Old Hilltop ( Pimlico)
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Baltimore trotting races...wow no offense but you must be old.
Where you around to see the Hilltop at Old Hilltop ( Pimlico)
I do collect social security
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Shreds
Northlands
Stampede Park
Blue Bonnets
Woodbine
Exhibition Park
Summerside
Charlottetown
Chatham. NB
Truro
Sackville Downs
Moncton
Foxboro
Scarborough
Threes
Northlands
Suffolk Downs
Dogs
Seabrook
Raynham
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Sad and frightening. I find myself on Rte7 a few times a year and each time I pass it, it looks worse. You should see Green Mountain up in Pownall Vt. It is beyond my understanding of construction and engineering how that glass and concrete grandstand is still standing. The property must be abandoned going on 45 years now. I know the Rooneys owned it for what it's worth. Once saw a similar video on line of , I think, Raceway Park in Michigan, I don't think it was Saginaw. The guy walks around for like a half hour. Looks like an abandoned mental hospital and like people were escaping a volcano - cups of coffee still on the desks. Thanks for sharing.
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I forgot I was at Wonderland Dogs in Boston many years ago. Talk about a down and dirty hard core dog track. I remember winning that night enough for my cab fare back to my hotel.
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Sad and frightening. I find myself on Rte7 a few times a year and each time I pass it, it looks worse. You should see Green Mountain up in Pownall Vt. It is beyond my understanding of construction and engineering how that glass and concrete grandstand is still standing. The property must be abandoned going on 45 years now. I know the Rooneys owned it for what it's worth. Once saw a similar video on line of , I think, Raceway Park in Michigan, I don't think it was Saginaw. The guy walks around for like a half hour. Looks like an abandoned mental hospital and like people were escaping a volcano - cups of coffee still on the desks. Thanks for sharing.
Green Mountain Harness home of races going near 2:40 for a mile in the winter. The races were run so slow in the cold months you could watch the start, go pee, get a hot dog and get back for the stretch run.
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Pompano Park
Meadowlands
Plainridge
Rockingham Park
Scarborough Downs
Bass Park Bangor
Cumberland
Topsham
Windsor Fair
Skowhegan
Union
Red Shores Summerside
Red Shores Summerside
Truro Raceway
Exhibition Park
Fredericton
Port Elgin
Connel Park Woodstock
Quinte Raceway Belleville
Hanover
Windsor Raceway
Clinton Raceway
Elmira
Mohawk
Woodbine
Flamboro
Georgian Downs
Paris Fair
Western Fair
Kawartha Downs
Dresden
Hiawatha
Grand River
Dogs
Seabrook
Sanford
Derby Lane St Pete
Naples
T Breds
Woodbine
Fort Erie
Rockingham
Tampa Bay Downs
Gulf Stream Park
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freehold, garden state ,alantic city ,meadowlands,poconos,liberty bell,meadows,northfield,scioto downs,hazel park,foxboro,plainridge,lewiston,scarsbrough,saratoga,monticello,yonkers,roosevelt,buffalo,batiava,syercuse,dover,brandywine,harrington,freestate,ocean downs,rosecroft pompano park ,colonial downs red mile,lousville quad city downs mohawk,woodbine,blue bonnets,greenwood
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Green Mountain Harness home of races going near 2:40 for a mile in the winter. The races were run so slow in the cold months you could watch the start, go pee, get a hot dog and get back for the stretch run.
Allen "Bucky" Day
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English TB
On a trip to England I was able to visit the racetracks at Newcastle, York and Redcar. These tracks were awesome. Great race fans over there and they bet lots.
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Buffalo, Batavia, Tioga, Saratoga, Vernon, Pocono, Yonkers, Northfield, Scioto, Miami Valley, Hoosier, Mohawk,Western Fair
Jack Thistle, Prairie Meadows, Fort Erie, Lone Star, Churchill, Presque Isle
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Allen "Bucky" Day
Alfred….sorry
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Green Mountain Harness home of races going near 2:40 for a mile in the winter. The races were run so slow in the cold months you could watch the start, go pee, get a hot dog and get back for the stretch run.
There was a period of time at Saratoga when the track was being resurfaced and they were crawling over a dangerous surface, and Danny Wilsey raced his horse along the outer rail because it was the best part of the racetrack, but Ernie Morris was not amused.
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My very first win as trainer was at Saratoga in a maiden, 3 year old filly, several inches of snow on the ground 2:11.1 Bert Belanger
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harness-georgian, mohawk, flamboro, buffalo, batavia, tioga, vernon, saratoga, plainridge, rockingham, yonkers, meadowlands, harrah's chester (now harrah's philadelphia), pocono, the meadows, pompano, northfield, and scioto.
greyhounds- palm beach kennel.
t-breds-fort erie, saratoga, hialeah, calder, and gulfstream park .
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Dogs- Hollywood (Florida)
Tbreds- Aqueduct, Belmont, Suffolk, Santa Anita, Fairmont, Calder, Gulfstream, Turf Paradise
Harness- Roosevelt, Yonkers, Tioga, Meadowlands, Garden State, Monticello, Freehold, Dover, Indiana State Fair, Hollywood (California), Mohawk, Pompano, Chester, Pocono, NJ Fairs at New Egypt, Scarborough
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A few more obscure ones....
Markham Fair
Caledon
Fonner Park
Santa Rosa
Vallejo
Hamilton
Musselburgh
Manchester, NH Dogs
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Will not repeat the myriad of tracks that I have both attended and raced at, but one racetrack trip stands out in my mind:
I was married in 1967 and for our honeymoon we went to Canada. Being a racing buff, we wanted to make sure that we stopped at a few of the top Canadian tracks and our very first visit was to Blue Bonnets. We made reservations and had dinner at their equivalent of the Cloud Casino (our home base). We had a great table up front and to our absolute amazement, a lovely young woman came to our table to take our bets for us; had never seen or heard of something like that back home. To this day, I would love to sit in the clubhouse at a racetrack and have a lovely blonde in a miniskirt take my money (no comments, please.)
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Yonkers, Roosevelt, Meadowlands, Monticello, Saratoga, Vernon, Syracuse, Batavia, Northfield, Scioto, Lebanon, Bluegrass Downs, Henderson, The red mile, Meadows, Pocono, Hazle Park, Saginaw, Balmoral, Rosecroft, Liberty Bell, Freehold Cumberland Run, Red Mile, Hillsdale, Pompano and Plainridge. Dover and Harrington. Hoosier and Indiana Downs.
Belmont, Saratoga, Finger Lakes, Blue Ribbon Downs, Turf Paradise, Keystone( Parx), Gulfstream, Calder, Hialeah, Arlington. Remington, Oaklawn and The Fair Grounds.
I am sure I am forgetting a few.
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When you think about the condition of the facility today, consider that at Monticello in the 70s and 80s, that I witnessed and probably before then, the dining room was manned by 2 maitre' Ds in TUXEDOES, if you wanted to sit in the first 3 rows, let alone the window you had to "matter", they seated you for cash tips and it was packed, especially Sunday afternoons. The food was very good especially the boneless marinated rib eye and the chesse/fruit plate. Nether of which were on the menu. If you knew about and ordered them, you "mattered". I can still hear John Cerabino at his permanent table by the far betting windows by the glass, screaming, "FOR THE BEAN" if he looked like a winner deepstretch! Such great times/memories.
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At Saratoga, Men needed a jacket and tie. Ladies, dress or skirt.
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T-breds:
Arlington
Hawthorne
Sportsman's
Hollywood
Santa Anita (saw MSU FB coach Duffy Daugherty)
River Downs (saw Steve Cauthen as apprentice)
Jefferson Downs
Fairmount
Keeneland
Dogs:
Mobile Alabama
Whatever track was close to Disney World in 1989
Harness:
Sportsman's
Hawthorne
Maywood
Balmoral
Aurora Downs
Washington
Arlington (1977 and 1978)
East Moline Downs
Sandwich Fair
Urbana (Ill) Fair
Springfield
Indy Fair (saw Jodevin trot in 2:00 as a 2 YO. Big deal back then)
Scioto
Big M
Garden State (saw Breeders' Crown)
Los Alamitos (quarter horses too)
Latonia (saw Pete Rose)
Wolverine
Northville
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I forgot Red Mile. Met Sam Bowie.
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A zillion Harness tracks in ten states plus Canada.
A gazillion state and county fairs in five states.
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That makes a gazillionzillion - impressive
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Escanaba Downs in the upper peninsula of Michigan along with most of the places racing still.I still have an old t-shirt that has the slogan "SAY YA! TO THE U.P.! The place wasn't open long. It's hard to fund purses and pay bill with an average crowd of 56 people and only 30 betting! ngc3
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When you think about the condition of the facility today, consider that at Monticello in the 70s and 80s, that I witnessed and probably before then, the dining room was manned by 2 maitre' Ds in TUXEDOES, if you wanted to sit in the first 3 rows, let alone the window you had to "matter", they seated you for cash tips and it was packed, especially Sunday afternoons. The food was very good especially the boneless marinated rib eye and the chesse/fruit plate. Nether of which were on the menu. If you knew about and ordered them, you "mattered". I can still hear John Cerabino at his permanent table by the far betting windows by the glass, screaming, "FOR THE BEAN" if he looked like a winner deepstretch! Such great times/memories.
Well I couldn’t afford all these fancy track dining rooms back them and I’m kinda glad. Because at MR they had a fabulous deli restaurant in the back of the grandstand. There they had chefs slicing some of the best corned beef, pastrami, turkey and roast beef that made great sandwiches at a reasonable price. You could eat it in the restaurant or take your food upstairs or my favorite outside with my people. I used to see Jeff Gural on the apron all the time with one of my golfing buddy’s. Back then he was screaming at drivers who he felt stiffed his C-3 pacer, just like the rest of us degenerates. He wasn’t too good at golf either but he had a very wealthy father. It wasn’t just MR that eroded to what it is today. This entire area of Sullivan County and the town of Monticello went to hell. The hotels all went out of business. It’s almost like a nuclear bomb came down on the Quickway and ended what was once a fabulous place to visit or live. What a shame.
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You described it well and OMG that deli in the back downstairs. Remember the high pedestal chairs on platforms where you could get your shoes shined? Or that program / souvenir glass counter with the half sized mini golf pencils that said MONTICELLO RACEWAY on them? Milky Way night club all the way upstairs for after races fun - I was too young ngc3
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That MR club upstairs was a pretty hot pick up place.
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Liberty Bell, Brandywine, Dover, Chester, Meadows, Pocono, Garden State, Freehold, Meadowlands ,Yonkers, Roosevelt, Monticello Flamboro, Mohawk, Woodbine, Delaware Fair, Scioto
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Hinsdale high school still calls their sports teams the Pacers.
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been to many tracks but really appreciated the smaller tracks with their fair vibe.
Saginaw
Dresden
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Hey Moe..They share that name With Hayes H.S. in Delaware Ohio
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Aqueduct
Belmont
Saratoga
Meadowlands flats
Garden State flats
Monmouth
Atlantic City flats
Delaware park
Dover Downs flats
Pocono downs flats
Liberty Bell flats
Penn National
Parx
Naragansett
Lincoln downs
Suffolk
Marshfield
Northampton
Charlestown
Great Barrington
Mountaineer
River Downs
Hazel park flats
Sportsman's park flats
Churchill
Thistle downs
Santa Anita
Bay Meadows
Scarborough flats
Kempton UK
Hiporome Mex.
Woodbine flats
Laurel
Bowie
Timonium
Hialeah
Gulfstream
Caldor
Tampa
Arlington
Parr Meadows
Fort Erie
Beulah
Roosevelt
Yonkers
Monticello
Batavia
Buffalo
Vernon
Syracuse
Tioga
Louisville downs
Pocono
Meadows
Freestate
Rosecroft
Ocean downs
Colonial
Freehold
Meadowlands
Atlantic City
Foxboro
Plainridge
Scarborough
Cumberland
Lewiston
Bangor
Harrington
Dover downs
Northfield
Maywood
Balmoral
DRC
Mohawk
Greenwood
Flamboro
Woodbine
Wolverine
Blue Bonnets
Pompano
Seminole
Los Al
Rideau
Hoosier
Philadelphia
Rockingham
Green Mountain
Hindsdale
Garden state
Lebanon
River downs
Goshen
Brandywine
Audubon
Liberty Bell
Plainfield dogs
Seabrook
Tauton Raynum
Hollywood
Sanford Orlando
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I think Sam R has us all beat.
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I think Sam skipped a lot of his classes and played hooky often.
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I think Sam skipped a lot of his classes and played hooky often.
That is true.
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Aqueduct
Belmont
Saratoga
Meadowlands flats
Garden State flats
Monmouth
Atlantic City flats
Delaware park
Dover Downs flats
Pocono downs flats
Liberty Bell flats
Penn National
Parx
Naragansett
Lincoln downs
Suffolk
Marshfield
Northampton
Charlestown
Great Barrington
Mountaineer
River Downs
Hazel park flats
Sportsman's park flats
Churchill
Thistle downs
Santa Anita
Bay Meadows
Scarborough flats
Kempton UK
Hiporome Mex.
Woodbine flats
Laurel
Bowie
Timonium
Hialeah
Gulfstream
Caldor
Tampa
Arlington
Parr Meadows
Fort Erie
Beulah
Roosevelt
Yonkers
Monticello
Batavia
Buffalo
Vernon
Syracuse
Tioga
Louisville downs
Pocono
Meadows
Freestate
Rosecroft
Ocean downs
Colonial
Freehold
Meadowlands
Atlantic City
Foxboro
Plainridge
Scarborough
Cumberland
Lewiston
Bangor
Harrington
Dover downs
Northfield
Maywood
Balmoral
DRC
Mohawk
Greenwood
Flamboro
Woodbine
Wolverine
Blue Bonnets
Pompano
Seminole
Los Al
Rideau
Hoosier
Philadelphia
Rockingham
Green Mountain
Hindsdale
Garden state
Lebanon
River downs
Goshen
Brandywine
Audubon
Liberty Bell
Plainfield dogs
Seabrook
Tauton Raynum
Hollywood
Sanford Orlando
My jaw just dropped 2 feet!! Did you set out to see as many tracks as possible? i.e. Did you plan trips around visiting tracks? That is fuxxing amazing.
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I’m surprised Sam didn’t make it to Wonderland Dogs in Boston. I bet he would have fit right in.
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Sam is the man. I have always enjoyed his posts. he's been there done that. tmbz1
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I’m surprised Sam didn’t make it to Wonderland Dogs in Boston. I bet he would have fit right in.
I think that I was there. I wasn't sure so I left it off of the list. I was definitely at another dog track in Fla. but don't remember which one. I was at several frontons in Connecticut and Fla. I love Jai Alai. My favorite players are Alex, front man and Charuga, back man. My friend Mitchell once said while speaking of Charuga, that I should claim a jai alai player.
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My jaw just dropped 2 feet!! Did you set out to see as many tracks as possible? i.e. Did you plan trips around visiting tracks? That is fuxxing amazing.
When I started out there was no OTB and no simulcasting of other tracks. NY tracks closed on or about November 15 and didn't reopen until about March 7,8,9. Harness tracks would take off for at least half of December so we had to travel to out of town tracks. Like a Bowie, Dover Downs double header. One time after the last race on November 15 I was in one of the limo's to go home. They would fill up the car with 7 or 8 people for $4 or $5 apiece, and this guy comes into the car and as he sits down he opens his NY post afternoon paper and says "let's see what's on tv until March 9th."
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Aqueduct
Belmont
Saratoga
Meadowlands flats
Garden State flats
Monmouth
Atlantic City flats
Delaware park
Dover Downs flats
Pocono downs flats
Liberty Bell flats
Penn National
Parx
Naragansett
Lincoln downs
Suffolk
Marshfield
Northampton
Charlestown
Great Barrington
Mountaineer
River Downs
Hazel park flats
Sportsman's park flats
Churchill
Thistle downs
Santa Anita
Bay Meadows
Scarborough flats
Kempton UK
Hiporome Mex.
Woodbine flats
Laurel
Bowie
Timonium
Hialeah
Gulfstream
Caldor
Tampa
Arlington
Parr Meadows
Fort Erie
Beulah
Roosevelt
Yonkers
Monticello
Batavia
Buffalo
Vernon
Syracuse
Tioga
Louisville downs
Pocono
Meadows
Freestate
Rosecroft
Ocean downs
Colonial
Freehold
Meadowlands
Atlantic City
Foxboro
Plainridge
Scarborough
Cumberland
Lewiston
Bangor
Harrington
Dover downs
Northfield
Maywood
Balmoral
DRC
Mohawk
Greenwood
Flamboro
Woodbine
Wolverine
Blue Bonnets
Pompano
Seminole
Los Al
Rideau
Hoosier
Philadelphia
Rockingham
Green Mountain
Hindsdale
Garden state
Lebanon
River downs
Goshen
Brandywine
Audubon
Liberty Bell
Plainfield dogs
Seabrook
Tauton Raynum
Hollywood
Sanford Orlando
Why not Farmington, Topsham, Fryeburg, Union, Skowhegan and Presque Isle In Maine and the Rochester fair. How could you miss those.
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One road trip that three of us took that comes to mind in light of recent doings started out on a Saturday night at Lewiston raceway. I hit the last race exacta that paid $104 for $4. Don Richards drove the winner. That was probably half of the pool on a winter night in Maine. We headed out to Canada for Sunday afternoon at Blue Bonnets. It started to snow and we got a flat tire and it is so dark in Maine at night that we could hardly see to change the tire. There are no highways between Lewiston and Montreal. We drove for hours and finally found a motel. We had to hit the road early to make afternoon post at Blue Bonnets. I think we drove through the tip of Vermont and finally got to the QE expressway (405). We got to the track just in time for post and I hit the first race winner driven by Bob Samson. I didn't hit much the rest of the day and I remember having to go to a cashier that changed American money $100 for Canadian $104.After the races we headed across from Montreal to Toronto and Greenwood for Monday's Racing after which we did Flamboro. The way home took us right past Buffalo and I know that was on Saint Paddy's day because the programs were printed in green.
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I would have loved to do the fair circuit but it's a long way from Brooklyn and the years went by so fast. My last trip to Maine was to race a trotter, Danzig, in an armature race at Bangor with Jim McGowan driving because we needed points for the final. He won of course and if I knew how I would post the picture.
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I would have loved to do the fair circuit but it's a long way from Brooklyn and the years went by so fast. My last trip to Maine was to race a trotter, Danzig, in an armature race at Bangor with Jim McGowan driving because we needed points for the final. He won of course and if I knew how I would post the picture.
We broke our two year olds at Seminole Downs in Altamont Springs, and Gator Downs in Jacksonville. Two years for both that ended with total lack of interest. In order to get stalls, I claimed several $500. claimers, both from Roy Saul.
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Sam is a good guy and I think the only track he didn't mention was Gator Downs. Sam and I had a conversation about ten years or more about The Alan Cantor thing concerning Royal Count N. We also spoke of a common friend named Danny Marks who is no longer with us. If Sam was standing in front of me, he would know exactly who I am as I was a notorious big bettor, however mostly on my own horses.
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Oops! Did anyone mention Latonia in Covington KY?
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Sam is a good guy and I think the only track he didn't mention was Gator Downs. Sam and I had a conversation about ten years or more about The Alan Cantor thing concerning Royal Count N. We also spoke of a common friend named Danny Marks who is no longer with us. If Sam was standing in front of me, he would know exactly who I am as I was a notorious big bettor, however mostly on my own horses.
I never got to Gator downs, I think that it was Florida downs, but I could be wrong. One of my regrets as is Georgetown in Delaware, Pimlico, Lincoln downs harness meet in Rhode Island that only lasted one meet and Suffolk downs harness in Beantown.I did race a horse at Seminole. Getaway Pick when he was 12 or 13.
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I never got to Gator downs, I think that it was Florida downs, but I could be wrong. One of my regrets as is Georgetown in Delaware, Pimlico, Lincoln downs harness meet in Rhode Island that only lasted one meet and Suffolk downs harness in Beantown.I did race a horse at Seminole. Getaway Pick when he was 12 or 13.
It was Gator Downs in Jax about an hour from our farm in Reddick. I couldn't see how anyone could survive on $250-$500. purses. Someone had a post that said "there really was aGator Downs and displayed a program although I think you can see it if you pull up Gator Downs.
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Has anyone here been to Phoenix Trotting Park or the harness track in New Orleans years back?
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Liberty Bell
Brandywine
Dover
Harrington
Garden St
Freehold
Meadowlands
Yonkers
Harrahs Chester
Rosecroft
Ocean Downs
Pompano
Tbred
Aqueduct
Belmont
Saratoga
Pimlico
Meadowlands
Atlantic City
Garden St
Parx
Gulfstream
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Has anyone here been to Phoenix Trotting Park or the harness track in New Orleans years back?
My parents went to the Phoenix trotting park. Man that was ages ago...
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My parents went to the Phoenix trotting park. Man that was ages ago...
Was hoping someone would mention Dunnigan’s Phoenix track.
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It was Gator Downs in Jax about an hour from our farm in Reddick. I couldn't see how anyone could survive on $250-$500. purses. Someone had a post that said "there really was aGator Downs and displayed a program although I think you can see it if you pull up Gator Downs.
I used to bet with a bookmaker, Al Pollack, that had trained horses at Gator. He called it Florida downs.
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Was hoping someone would mention Dunnigan’s Phoenix track.
Eddie Dunnigan once shipped a trotter for me from Vernon to Rideau. Crimson Hanover, he raced him drove him and in the winners circle which was knee deep slop offered me $10,000 to buy him but my firm price was $11,000.
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I used to bet with a bookmaker, Al Pollack, that had trained horses at Gator. He called it Florida downs.
Just google Gator Downs harness. tmbz1
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Allen "Bucky" Day
Was that the Bucky Day that was a second trainer for Eddie Cobb ?
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I think Sam R has us all beat.
I am up about 20 on Sam. If I can remember them all, I will post this week.
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How about East Moline Downs that I think became Quad City Downs?