You Can Never Go Home Again:
I went to the horse races recently----twice----and it was a weird experience. I haven't been to the horse races since the 60's. For a while back in those days I went rather frequently.
I knew horse racing had lost much of it's luster, but was not prepared for the reality of modern day horse racing. I went on a Sunday and a Fri Eve. Both times the weather was warm, perfect for a day at the races. You realize times have changed when you pull in the parking lot a few minutes before the first race and the the vast parking lot is practically empty. The next thing you notice is the absence of any fees. No parking fee and the entrance fee is $1. Nothing these days worth anything is $1. Inside the huge complex there are no crowds. That is an understatement. There are seats available anywhere you choose, including at the finish line. In the enclosed inside bleachers I don't think you can count more than 50 people in stands that seat thousands. In the second floor enclosed bleachers I would be the only person in a whole section of the bleachers near the finnish line. In the lower outside bleachers there are a small smattering of families with small kids. But the total number of kids at the racetrack must be well under 100. Only a few of the betting windows need be open and there is never any line to place a bet. The atmosphere is one of eerie silence. Nothing about it is festive at all. Most of those at the race track sit inside in chairs staring at TV monitors. Except for the outside seating area, the track announcer is not broadcast. Clearly most people, all inside looking at monitors, don't want to hear any of it. Most of those mulling around inside are down and out discomfiturees, leading lives of quiet desperation. I feel sorry for them as I consider gambling an interest for those who can't do math. But the reality is, they do know the math, but all other avenues of hope have long since left their lives. They are no doubt even outside Obama's radar. I doubt you see any of them at an Obama rally chanting "Yes we can, yes we can".
Since I don't like crowds, and like to quietly observe people and varied environments, the atmosphere was hardly boring, but reflectively sad. I know there may well be a lot of people betting at off track sites, but I suspect most people who bet are not betting on horse racing anymore. And a day at the track for a family to watch the horses run is almost nonexistent. When the horses enter the starting gate there is no noticeable excitement. During the entire race absolute silence reigns, even at the finish. Maybe 2 or three times the entire day I heard someone shout "C'mon 5, go, go, go," It was just nothing like horse races in the 60's with the crowds and the yelling.
On Sunday there was some security and a winner's circle. On Friday there was no winner's circle, no fanfare of any sort for the winning horse or jockey. Just another day at work. Some places you couldn't go. On Friday as far as I could tell one could go anywhere one chose. Maybe next time I will follow the horses back into the bowels of the racetrack. I really don't think anyone would pay me the slightest attention. I often stood at the entrance ramp where the horses come out on the the track. You know, maybe I could tell by observing each horse which might be the better runners. Sure. At first I picked the most powerful looking, but learned quickly that their power came with weight and that extra weight was a lot to keep moving over a long race. Then I decided maybe to pick the horses who acted real excited, those fighting being led around. I figured once they get out of the gate they are going to run like hell. Oops, wrong again. Maybe all their nervousness left them exhausted before the race. I did notice, compared to horses I feed in the pastures at one of the forest preserves where I take my daily walks, that these race horses have eyes that sparkle. I mean they are really aroused, but I couldn't decide whether the excitement was eagerness type excitement or accentuated fear. Compared to horses you see in a riding stable these horses really looked beautiful for the most part.
I wonder how hard most of these horses try to win? I am sure some really do, but the minds of animals are often a mystery to human insight. Maybe some of these really hi strung nervous horses really seek a little space to themselves and almost deliberately settle down in 5th or 6th place to avoid the bedlam further up front. Then there is the doping question. Who knows how much of that is involved? I also studied Sunday in the winner's circle a few of the obvious race track big shots. Perfect caricatures of some sort of mob gathering---the suits, the hats, the cigars, the mannerisms.
I didn't bet the first time I went, just content to poke around and observe. The second time I did bet. I arrived just in time to see the horses trot up toward the starting gate, sized them up, and chose a horse which looked like a good runner to me. Placed a $2 bet to place and he won the race. Well, this was going to be so easy! Then each race I picked two horses to place, a total of $4 per race. I never collected a dime until the 8th race when some horse I picked at 55-1 odds finished 2nd. Then in the 9th race one of my horses also placed. Was now on a roll but the races were over. I won a total of $16.80 I must be real smart. At least a quick learner. Yeah, sure.
For the time being, I am amused a bit and will probably go to the races for a few times. I prefer Hawthorne Race track where I went these past two times as opposed to Arlington where the class of horses is better. It is harder to beat the odds with horses having a solid past, as would be found at Arlington. Plus Hawthorne track is closer.
Perhaps in the near future these race tracks will become gambling casinos in addition to horse racing facilities. Why not----the percentage of our population slipping into the down and out discomfituree category is rising exponentially, so it ought to become easy to fill up the race tracks as sort of a way stop en route to jailing them. 23% of those in jail in the world are in American jails. I guess we call it 'tough love'. We must be one of the most 'loving' countries in the world. Last night 23 people were shot in Chicago. I wonder why they don't post the stats on how many people are wounded or killed in the U.S. every day alongside those wounded or killed in Iraq? Maybe too embarrassing. These are the best of times and yet the worst of times. For sure times change. A day at the horse races is not what it used to be.
