Ever Been Caught at the Track when you were'nt supposed to be there?

[jahura2]

Never one to start a thread but I suspect there are some characters on here that have some great stories to tell (Wiffleball?) So just to lighten the mood a bit and just for fun I will give this a shot.

I was in sales in the early 90's, went to Keenland every day that it ran in spring and fall. I called in to the office every afternoon usually from the track kitchen or a payphone (this was before smartphones and ADW) I was at a payphone by the stables and just as the office answered the grooms brought out the feed and the horses went crazy snorting and winneying. The office person hearing all the commotion, immediately says "where in the hell are you" knowing full well where I was. Needless to say I bribed the office worker and not another word was said.

[ronsmac]

Never one to start a thread but I suspect there are some characters on here that have some great stories to tell (Wiffleball?) So just to lighten the mood a bit and just for fun I will give this a shot.

I was in sales in the early 90's, went to Keenland every day that it ran in spring and fall. I called in to the office every afternoon usually from the track kitchen or a payphone (this was before smartphones and ADW) I was at a payphone by the stables and just as the office answered the grooms brought out the feed and the horses went crazy snorting and winneying. The office person hearing all the commotion, immediately says "where in the hell are you" knowing full well where I was. Needless to say I bribed the office worker and not another word was said.Yes, I used to cut school on fridays on occasion to go to Belmont, who was behind me in line tapping me on the shoulder? Dear old Dad

[burnsy]

When i was a younger man and worked full time for a big company.......i called in one day from the track (Saratoga)...at the wrong time....just as i got human resources on the phone, you could here the trumphet in the background........"doo, doo doo, doo, doo, doo, doo...horses are entering the track".............the next day my boss found me the hardest job in the plant. :blush:

[elhelmete]

I avoided Suffolk Downs when I first started out (and there was the Rockingham option) because there were a few former deadbeat friends of my dad who haunted the place and, if they saw me, would probably used that as a reason to call my dad and sleaze something out of him.

So I go ONE time to Suffolk in the dead of winter and immediately I run into Deadbeat #1 who appears to recognize me even though he's probably eight beers in at that moment. He makes a zig-zag beeline for me to get a closer look and calls out my name. I don't know what prompted me but I started talking in Spanish (mostly meaningless sentences and fragments) and keep at it long enough until I think he believed I was someone else.

[chadk66]

this is the funniest story I've heard yet. My step dad has been a handicapper/track junkie his whole life. He attended Univ. of North Dakota way back in the sixties. The night before he was supposed to graduate his folks called and said they had an emergency come up and they weren't going to be able to drive over (4 hr. drive) and attend commencement. they felt horrible. Well the next morning they had the issue resolved and decided if they ran out the door immediately they could make the commencement. So they drove four hours and got there just as the ceremony started. His last name started with "W" so they got to sit through about a thousand recipients when they finally called his name. Well he never walked up to receive his diploma. they had no idea what the deal was. ( no cell phones back then lol). So they drove to his apartment to see what the deal was. He wasn't there. Just as they were leaving his room mate showed up. They asked him where he was. The room mate said since they called and weren't going to be able to make the commencement he decided screw it and drove to winnipeg to bet the horses :D

[Track Collector]

I don't think I was ever at the track when I was not supposed to be.

However, one day at the completion of work at the end of a business trip in the St. Louis area, a supplier offered to take me out to dinner, so as that I would not have to spend the evening alone. I politely declined, telling them I was meeting up with some friends. Then I drove to the races at Fairmount Park. :D

[Ocala Mike]

Yes, I used to cut school on fridays



Me, too. Cut my afternoon classes at Queens College on 11/22/63, and heard about JFK's assassination via Fred Capposella's announcement.

Not a question of "getting caught," but something I'll always remember.

[Ocala Mike]

Hate to hog the thread, but there was another time that I got "caught" when in the military. I was the OIC (Capt.) of a communications maintenance unit at Pease AFB in NH back in the late 60's, and I would sometimes "leave work" early to catch the races at Rockingham Park. One afternoon, the "shit hit the fan" back at the shop, but my NCOIC covered up for me, and the Major was none the wiser. I bought Sarge a bottle of Scotch from the Officer's Club. Fortunately, for the country's security, I left the military a few months after that.

[magwell]

I was always supposed to be at the track........;)

[jahura2]

Love these two answers:

Track Collector "I don't think I was ever at the track when I was not supposed to be."

Magwell "I was always supposed to be at the track........;)"

[wisconsin]

There was a short part of my adulthood where money was tight (lost my job) and dad was helping out. Came to learn that he had an informant at the local dog track and simulcast center. Someone I also knew. You know the rest of the story.

[jballscalls]

Two stories come to mind, one about me, one about my dad.

First, in 1995, our team had qualified for the 15 year old baseball world series in suburban chicago, about 20 miles NW of Arlington Park. Well we had a game at 5pm one evening and me and my dad went to AP for the afternoon, brought our gear (he was our head coach) and knew if we left by 3:30pm we'd be there at 4pm for warm ups. Well he hit the early double and was off and running and was making nice scores every race. I told him "hey we gotta leave now and he said "this horse in the next race is 18/1 and I love him." So we stick around and the horse runs second, but there was an inquiry. I swear the inquiry went on for 5 or 7 minutes and I looked and it was almost 4pm. They took the horse down so he got put up for the win. We leave and of course Chicago traffic is screwed. We finally got there five minutes before game time and the other coaches are pissed and my dad blames me and says I got us lost.

Other one was I had told my girlfriend at the time a few years ago that I wasn't feeling good so i didn't want to go to her parents house for dinner. I was fine, i just wanted to go to the races at Emerald Downs. So after a few missed calls, I call her back and told her I was sleeping and getting better. I had stepped out to the side of the grandstand and little did I know there was a speaker directly above me. Robert Geller started promoing an upcoming day and she quickly realized I wasn't home resting.

[1st time lasix]

Had a manditory regional meeting in South Florida. All day long and boring. My younger sister who was also with the National company at the time 8 months pregnant. I told her to fake being ill around 10..... and I would offer to get her home. Of course they excused us ten minutes in. Took her to Gulfstream Park and grabbed a great table by the finish line for the entire glorious afternoon. The Foutain of youth stkes was the feature. We had a great time doing a little bonding playing hooky.

[Stillriledup]

Had a manditory regional meeting in South Florida. All day long and boring. My younger sister who was also with the National company at the time 8 months pregnant. I told her to fake being ill around 10..... and I would offer to get her home. Of course they excused us ten minutes in. Took her to Gulfstream Park and grabbed a great table by the finish line for the entire glorious afternoon. The Foutain of youth stkes was the feature. We had a great time doing a little bonding playing hooky.

Well played! :D

[horses4courses]

That's the main reason why you will find that cameras are not allowed on casino floors in most areas.
Getting caught at one when you're not supposed to be.
Bad for business..... ;)

Let's face it, though.
The consequences of getting caught at a gambling establishment, of any sort,
are usually less severe than getting caught with your pants down..... :eek:

[thaskalos]

I was in the grocery business for many years...and I would stop off at an OTB that's close to my house on my way home from work, on the rare nights when my son would be sleeping over at a relative's house on weekend nights.

My mother would sometimes call me while I was at the OTB, and would ask me where I was...and I would always tell her that I was still at the store and just about to leave -- because I didn't want to upset her by telling her that I was at the OTB. There is a great stigma surrounding horseplaying in the Greek community...especially among the elders.

"Oh great, I thought you had left already"...she would tell me..."Would you mind bringing me some feta cheese and some Kalamata olives on your way home, because I'm all out".

So, on these rare nights, I would be wandering the streets at 9:45 pm...looking for a place that sold Kalamata olives and good feta cheese.

But I was far from the only liar there...

I remember a lawyer...who would receive calls from his secretary as he was sitting at the table right next to me at the OTB.

"I know I have a meeting scheduled with him in 10 minutes"...he would tell her in a hurried voice..."Just tell him that I was in court...and I ran late".

I remember feeling sorry for his clients...who were scheduling meetings with him on serious matters while he was hiding away at an OTB.

Just as -- I suppose -- my friends at the OTB probably felt sorry for my mother...for having to go without feta cheese and olives some nights...

[Stillriledup]

I was in the grocery business for many years...and I would stop off at an OTB that's close to my house on my way home from work, on the rare nights when my son would be sleeping over at a relative's house on weekend nights.

My mother would sometimes call me while I was at the OTB, and would ask me where I was...and I would always tell her that I was still at the store and just about to leave -- because I didn't want to upset her by telling her that I was at the OTB. There is a great stigma surrounding horseplaying in the Greek community...especially among the elders.

"Oh great, I thought you had left already"...she would tell me..."Would you mind bringing home some feta cheese and some Kalamata olives on your way home, because I'm all out".

So, on these rare nights, I would be wandering the streets at 9:45 pm...looking for a place that sold Kalamata olives and feta cheese.

But I was far from the only liar there...

I remember a lawyer...who would receive calls from his secretary as he was sitting at his table right next to me at the OTB.

"I know I have a meeting scheduled with him in 10 minutes"...he would tell her in a hurried voice..."Just tell him that I was in court...and I ran late".

I remember feeling sorry for his clients...who were scheduling meetings with him on serious matters while he was hiding away at an OTB.

Just as -- I suppose -- my friends at the OTB probably felt sorry for my mother...for having to go without feta cheese and olives some nights...

With passion like this, and you certainly arent the only one, its unfortunate that the racing industry can't harness this passion amongst its true fans. Most all of us have had some epic and heroic feat to make a race or to be at the the track when we were supposed to be somewhere else, but it just feels like those are days gone by. It would be great if 'racing' could love its customers just as much as its customers love the sport.

[PoloUK6108]

Until a few years ago, I didn't know that tracks had simulcasting when the track was dark. One day when I was in college at UK, I was at my apartment surfing the web and for some reason I visited Keeneland's website for the first time. I found out I could bet horses across the country 5 days a week! :eek: Took the 10 minute ride out to Keeneland that day. Long story short, I failed an afternoon class that semester due to too many absences...you do the math :D

[Just a Fan]

Andrew Beyer wrote this in "Picking Winners", and I thought of this when I saw this thread:

"When I went to college... I managed to dabble at both academic and equine pursuits for the better part of four years, until an irreconcilable conflict arose two weeks before graduation. My final examination in Chaucer was scheduled on the same day that Kauai King would be trying to win the Triple Crown at Belmont Park. I knew nothing about the Canterbury Tales but I did know something about Amberoid in the Belmont Stakes. So I went to the track. Although I blew a $12,000 education, I did collect a $13 payoff on Amberoid, cutting my losses for the day to $11,987."

Love the punchline.

[jahura2]

I was in the grocery business for many years...and I would stop off at an OTB that's close to my house on my way home from work, on the rare nights when my son would be sleeping over at a relative's house on weekend nights.

My mother would sometimes call me while I was at the OTB, and would ask me where I was...and I would always tell her that I was still at the store and just about to leave -- because I didn't want to upset her by telling her that I was at the OTB. There is a great stigma surrounding horseplaying in the Greek community...especially among the elders.

"Oh great, I thought you had left already"...she would tell me..."Would you mind bringing me some feta cheese and some Kalamata olives on your way home, because I'm all out".

So, on these rare nights, I would be wandering the streets at 9:45 pm...looking for a place that sold Kalamata olives and good feta cheese.

But I was far from the only liar there...

I remember a lawyer...who would receive calls from his secretary as he was sitting at the table right next to me at the OTB.

"I know I have a meeting scheduled with him in 10 minutes"...he would tell her in a hurried voice..."Just tell him that I was in court...and I ran late".

I remember feeling sorry for his clients...who were scheduling meetings with him on serious matters while he was hiding away at an OTB.

Just as -- I suppose -- my friends at the OTB probably felt sorry for my mother...for having to go without feta cheese and olives some nights...

Thaskalos, I am sure the racing gods have smiled on you for being a good son and doing what your mother asked!

[proximity]

Andrew Beyer wrote this in "Picking Winners", and I thought of this when I saw this thread:

"When I went to college... I managed to dabble at both academic and equine pursuits for the better part of four years, until an irreconcilable conflict arose two weeks before graduation. My final examination in Chaucer was scheduled on the same day that Kauai King would be trying to win the Triple Crown at Belmont Park. I knew nothing about the Canterbury Tales but I did know something about Amberoid in the Belmont Stakes. So I went to the track. Although I blew a $12,000 education, I did collect a $13 payoff on Amberoid, cutting my losses for the day to $11,987."

Love the punchline.

that whole story never made sense to me.

i guess it's possible that semesters could have extended into june back then, but that and the final being scheduled so late on a saturday afternoon????????? :confused:

[TheEdge07]

Back in 1981 my dad skipped work and attended El Commandate...After the 7th race chaos broke loose at the track when a 99/1 won the race and apparently it was obvious the race was fixed.Fans started to flip garbage cans over burning racing forms etc...
When my dad arrived home my mother ask how was work Alphonso?He replied"Busy had to make two trips to the isla(mountains in Puerto Rico) it was hot and traffic was a bitch(said in spanish)..
After dinner they sat and watch the 6 oclock noticias..
video coverage of the chaos that took place at El Commandate that afternoon was aired on tv.
As the video play on TV my mother(and Dad who was sitting next to her)saw my dad in the crowd on TV at El Commandate.....

The rest is history...:lol: :lol:

[Stillriledup]

Back in 1981 my dad skipped work and attended El Commandate...After the 7th race chaos broke loose at the track when a 99/1 won the race and apparently it was obvious the race was fixed.Fans started to flip garbage cans over burning racing forms etc...
When my dad arrived home my mother ask how was work Alphonso?He replied"Busy had to make two trips to the isla(mountains in Puerto Rico) it was hot and traffic was a bitch(said in spanish)..
After dinner they sat and watch the 6 oclock noticias..
video coverage of the chaos that took place at El Commandate that afternoon was aired on tv.
As the video play on TV my mother(and Dad who was sitting next to her)saw my dad in the crowd on TV at El Commandate.....

The rest is history...:lol: :lol:

Wow, that's funny! :D

[therussmeister]

that whole story never made sense to me.

i guess it's possible that semesters could have extended into june back then, but that and the final being scheduled so late on a saturday afternoon????????? :confused:
My memories of college are a little bit hazy, but I distinctly remember the school year running well into June (started late September), and I remember finals being scheduled six days/week

[elhelmete]

that whole story never made sense to me.

i guess it's possible that semesters could have extended into june back then, but that and the final being scheduled so late on a saturday afternoon????????? :confused:

IIRC, Andy went to Harvard and I believe their semesters start and end later than most other colleges.

[banacek]

Rare picture of a very well-known member of the PA community getting caught at the track by his boss:

[JustRalph]

That's Tom from ten years ago............

[proximity]

i researched it and it appears the 1966 commencement was on th, june 18. so i guess the story is possible...... :jump:

[appistappis]

guy comes home at 2 am and gets caught coming in by the wife.

"where were you all night"

"i picked up two hookers and a case of beer and went to a motel room for a party"

"you liar, you were at the track"

[Stretch Out]

At Tulane in New Orleans occasionally we would have class outside- I would sign in, and then take off on bike to the Fairgrounds. Never got busted at the FG, but several years later, while I was playing hookie from work at Yonkers Simulcast- I saw a Building Super for a property I managed. He didn't see me- I am one of of those invisible people in public. Funny we were both at the track when we should have been working. Never confronted him on him on it.

[phattty]

was working in a warehouse job back in seventies, talked with boss in the morning , then at lunch i left, called in sick for the afternoon and headed for atlantic city for the days card

so there i am sitting in the walk through from clubhouse to paddock and who walks right up the path....the boss i talked to that morning

i'm thinking i'm in trouble and he walks right up to me and says,''i'm not here either''

nothing eve said about it again

[thespaah]

Yes, I used to cut school on fridays on occasion to go to Belmont, who was behind me in line tapping me on the shoulder? Dear old Dad
We cut school to go to AQU and Belmont...We ran into one of our teachers at the track. At first we thought we were dead meat. Then we realized that our teacher was 'cutting class' as well.

[thespaah]

Back in 1981 my dad skipped work and attended El Commandate...After the 7th race chaos broke loose at the track when a 99/1 won the race and apparently it was obvious the race was fixed.Fans started to flip garbage cans over burning racing forms etc...
When my dad arrived home my mother ask how was work Alphonso?He replied"Busy had to make two trips to the isla(mountains in Puerto Rico) it was hot and traffic was a bitch(said in spanish)..
After dinner they sat and watch the 6 oclock noticias..
video coverage of the chaos that took place at El Commandate that afternoon was aired on tv.
As the video play on TV my mother(and Dad who was sitting next to her)saw my dad in the crowd on TV at El Commandate.....

The rest is history...:lol: :lol:
I always avoided tv cameras at big events.
I was at Meadowlands for the Hambletonian. I was sitting on the back of one of the benches on the apron. I was the camera pan in my direction. I tried to put the program up so I could not be recognized.
That evening I must have gotten 5 phone calls "hey I saw you on tv today. You were at the track"...UGH!!! No kidding. I had no idea. Thanks for finding me. I must have gotten lost.
I really despise having to explain to anyone what I am doing.
I am probably one of the extreme minority that goes the other way when they see a tv camera or member of the media.
I just don't want the attention.

[Fox]

zig-zag beeline

Great imagery!