1974 Yonkers and 1983 Roosevelt and Meadowlands

[Senator Blutarsky]

Yes. A lot of characters at those tracks. One guy I remember always standing at the top of the grandstand with a clipboard yelling and screaming when he would hit a race.

Writing down the odds every minute, must of been handicapping / betting the money trail!   

[Fuguzzi]

 

[Senator Blutarsky]

Where the fuck can you get a hot pretzel at midnight in 2023?!  Damn it you guys brought back some serious nostalgia and a growing appetite! 

Too hot to hold, drenched in mustard, salt rocks melting in your mouth, 20 napkins....Fuck me!   

[Parked]

I remember when you could get a good meal, if not a great one,  at a track. 

[SeattleSlew]

At RR on the apron, there was a guy almost every night who would yell at Jack Lee and when he lost a race he would EAT the tickets... no kidding! During the late 70's if my calendar is working.

[The Exporter]

Racing was at its heyday then. Pretty cools stuff considering. The automation and gaming from the the computer ended all that. Simulcast had a role also.

So, was racing so popular or was gambling?

[Meadow Ford]

Anyone have any stories from Atlantic City Race Course?
In the Nostalgia section there are threads on famous horses and also Atlanic City.

[Fuguzzi]

I remember in the mid 70s at the Atlantic City harness track, a young Mike Lachance was thrown out of there for race fixing.

[Meadow Ford]

Over in The Nostalgia section Kooter For Kipin asked about a Jimmy Cruise horses. Anybody know the answer?

[wizardofoz]

People used to tear off a page from their programs at Roosevelt Raceway to reserve their seats and most people honored that when they saw it. 

[Superfecta]

People used to tear off a page from their programs at Roosevelt Raceway to reserve their seats and most people honored that when they saw it.

 

[Fuguzzi]

Over in The Nostalgia section Kooter For Kipin asked about a Jimmy Cruise horses. Anybody know the answer?

I dont think it was Bud T Ace   he was a big winner for them and a fan favorite AND survived a serious fire that really messed with his coat.  I have a feeling you are going back just a tad further.  Cruise had a really good trotter named Motor Mouth and another named  Lionel Minbar   World class trainer  A very nice man   Referred to everyone as "Pardner"

[Fuguzzi]

Another Jimmy Cruise note    He was the first owner/trainer/driver in the sports history to win a 50k overnight invitational race   it was i think in 1947    At the old Kelly's tack shop at RR they had a picture of the program the following night which had the winning picture and jimmy and the horse on it  Sure enough Jimmy had a piece of straw in his mouth like he always did

[JL52]

I remember suspicious races at Monticello, with a driver or two visiting in the box seats right by the finish line with a big gambler( one driver still active as a star at Yonkers).
Or another one, never top flight but still active at Monti, leaning straight back in the bike in the stretch to “fade” from the pocket, in order to be out of the triple.
And another, always happy to finish second or third with his mid level trotter, seemingly for years.
Ah, the good old days.

[Fuguzzi]

I remember suspicious races at Monticello, with a driver or two visiting in the box seats right by the finish line with a big gambler( one driver still active as a star at Yonkers).
Or another one, never top flight but still active at Monti, leaning straight back in the bike in the stretch to “fade” from the pocket, in order to be out of the triple.
And another, always happy to finish second or third with his mid level trotter, seemingly for years.
Ah, the good old days.

Your details are vague and the timeline seems off