Best thing about horse racing

[chrisforbes]

In your opinion what is the BEST thing you personally like about the sport of horse racing

chris forbes

[Overlay]

From the standpoint of the sport: its history and being able to get enjoyment from a great race no matter how many times I watch it.

From the standpoint of wagering: the fact that, even with onerous takeouts, drug issues, and all of racing's other problems, it is still a pari-mutuel game that can be systematically beaten, and where the skill of the individual player makes a difference.

[ManU918]

The cash aspect... I can go to the casino/racetrack/otb.... bet and if I win I can collect the cash... I'll be honest... If they ever legalized sports betting in Pennsylvania my betting on the ponies would drop to Derby Day, Preakness Day, Belmont Day, Breeders Cup Day, huge carryover days and the Keeneland Meets. Do I bet on sports now? Sure, but if it was something that I could do on my own and not over a computer in a offshore account or wiring money to a friend in LV, I would do it a lot more.

[DeltaLover]

The best thing about this game, is the crowd still tries to pick the winner maintaining a very low understanding of the betting part of it!

[Johnny V]

For me the enjoyment is being at the race track. I like being outside and watching the races live and enjoying the ambiance at certain tracks.(MTH, SAR, KEE, GP) I bet almost entirely from home and I do no real serious betting when attending the races at the track. I derive absolutely no enjoyment being at an OTB and actually not that much from betting at home either although betting and watching the races from home is very effective for me. I do bet sports(BB only) but derive no real pleasure in it but I do it because I do it well. I just enjoy the track and live racing. Always have.

[Augenj]

In your opinion what is the BEST thing you personally like about the sport of horse racing

chris forbes
Is it the athleticism displayed by both horse and rider or is it the challenge of picking winners? For me, when it comes to watching the greatness of a Secretariat, money becomes secondary. "Let him run his race" and at Belmont, he did run his race.

[Robert Goren]

The challenge of picking a winner. I love coming with a horse at price through logic. Sometimes it is a track bias that is being ignored and sometimes it is just all the other horses have serious flaws in them. I just wish I could still do it because I loved it so. There is nothing that beats handicapping when you are halfway good at. In fact nothing beats it even if you aren't which is why you see so many old guys at the simulcast center. It is the process that hooks you. Once you develop a process, you are hooked for life tweaking it a little here and there a long the way.
Ah, to be 22 again(before I have to go into the real world) with today's technology and being able hang around the track, getting to know a few old guys who have or had horses (or not) willing to share a little knowledge just because they are lonely and I am willing to listen. Sitting in the track café, and just watching and listening.

[phattty]

the simple proposition of mindless [casino wagering] vs continuous brain teasers in the form of races...i figure i make more decisions on one day than my neighbors make in a week. nothing better to keep the mind sharp than solving these puzzles daily

nothing wrong with the financial rewards as well..

[soupman2]

I go to the smoking room at Rockingham. I have a cigar and maybe a beer or two. I am a very tiny bettor just there to get out of the house (work at home) and take a break from the kids (I'm 63 and have 3 under 15). I just love picking a winner. I can take $40 and have it last 3-4 hours. When I used to go to a casino that would be lost on one spin of the roulette wheel. But I can also just sit and watch the races on TVG without anything bet on them. I just think horses are such beautiful animals.

[TheEdge07]

The best thing about the horse racing.....the characters and the stories.

[chrisforbes]

I would agree with the the characters and the stories. When I worked at Garden State Park there was some zany ones there, Parx isn;t as good ha ha

chris

[Dave Schwartz]

In what other game does a guy have an opportunity to build something of value that will stand the test of time?

That is, if you can create a system/method that works there is no barring, no need for beards, no need for any kind of subterfuge in order to play.

At that point you have your own refillable ATM machine.

[proximity]

In your opinion what is the BEST thing you personally like about the sport of horse racing

chris forbes

you mean other than female jockeys??;)

[wiffleball whizz]

In your opinion what is the BEST thing you personally like about the sport of horse racing

chris forbes

They never say to no a bet

[olddaddy]

Being able to place a legal bet and watching the race during all waking hours of day in the comfort of my domicile.

[PhantomOnTour]

Being able to place a legal bet and watching the race during all waking hours of day in the comfort of my domicile.
Yes !

[riskman]

WR = WT(1 − r).

[v j stauffer]

Solving the puzzle.

The feeling you get from that.

Talking trash to your buddy's who couldn't see what was so clear to you.

$$$$ ing.

Stories like Hal's Hope

Horses like Maybe Jack.

[Stillriledup]

Solving the puzzle.

The feeling you get from that.

Talking trash to your buddy's who couldn't see what was so clear to you.

$$$$ ing.

Stories like Hal's Hope

Horses like Maybe Jack.

And Lava Man.

Yesssssssss!!!

One of your all time best calls......the emotion was real, passion like that can't be faked.

The original rags to riches.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze6uRBSzqMs
(sorry if the video has a commercial or poor quality, its the only one i could find of this epic racecall and this one in a million horse)

[jahura2]

Cold Beer and a form full of winners on a warm afternoon.
The Babes
Touting a friend on a winner BEFORE the race runs
Secretariat, Affirmed, Seattle Slew, Alysheba, Curlin, Personal Ensign,Zenyatta,etc.......
Bourbon,Burgoo and a form full of winners on a COLD afternoon....
I could go on and on an on........

[PoloUK6108]

For me..horse racing is something like this

"Stamp this day in your minds and hearts..17 IN A ROOOOWWW!!" - Vic Stauffer, voice of Hollywood

"TIZNOW WINS FOR AMERICA!!" - Tom Durkin, voice of the BC/NYRA

"He's moving like a tremendous machine!!" - Whoever called that amazing race

"ANNNDAAAAWWAAY they go!!" - Trevor Denman, voice of Santa Anita

"They're at the post. And they're off!!" - Kurt Becker, voice of Keeneland (my personal favorite)

"AND DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME IN THE DERBY!!" - The voices of the Kentucky Derby over the years

...winning some cash here and there ain't bad either!! :)

[menifee]

For me, horse racing are that it is the only sport that gets better as you get older. The handicapping component of the sport teaches you something new each day and you appreciate it more. Other sports remain stagnant.

Additionally, it is the only sport that can produce true heroes. Humans are flawed - they will always disappoint, regardless of their athletic achievement. Horses are beautiful creatures that never disappoint. Their connections might disappoint you, but not the horse. There's nothing that can create excitement like a horse that has the will to constantly win and past other horses. When you see the special horses (Secretariat, etc.), you see a perfection that humans cannot create, model or match. It's pretty amazing.

[JustRalph]

When I pick a nice one, I still think of my dad......

[raybo]

Cash money in the bank!

[Jingle]

The challenge of trying to pick a winner that offers some value (overlay) while the crowd is chasing the favorite, usually the best looking horse on paper.

[Chris Longshot]

The Fillies....

[speed]

I shouldn't answer for Wiffleball but, sneaking through the fence and saving $8.

[jerry-g]

The best thing about horse racing for me is that it gets me away from
afternoon TV. You know the type...screaming and yelling..."You are
the Father!!!"

[tzipi]

Figuring out a race and also the history of the sport. :ThmbUp:

[speed]

Backsides of female jockeys. Male backsides for Grits. :)

[thespaah]

In your opinion what is the BEST thing you personally like about the sport of horse racing

chris forbes
I cannot think of a singular best thing.
I like the sport. I enjoy the variety of different bets. I like watching the horses do their work, the riders as well.
I like to people watch at the track.
Every so often I will take a camera to the track to shoot the horses in action. I will shoot photos of people in the act of being themselves.

[thespaah]

I shouldn't answer for Wiffleball but, sneaking through the fence and saving $8.
Reminds me of when my friends got caught sneaking into the Meadowlands.
I had to walk/hitch home.. made the 25 mile trip in under 2 hrs.
And still made it home before curfew..11 pm.Parents never found out.
I was in junior year in high school.

[CryingForTheHorses]

The best thing about this sport to me,Is getting a horse ready,Watching it win,Then seeing the smiles on the owners faces.Better then Moms apple pie!

[thespaah]

The best thing about this sport to me,Is getting a horse ready,Watching it win,Then seeing the smiles on the owners faces.Better then Moms apple pie!
What about the photo in the Winner's circle?.
I once knew a guy who came into the bar where I hung out. He would bring copies of his winners pics to hang up in the bar.
He said it was the best thing about being an owner. He said he wasn't in it for the money. He owned some low level claimers that raced Meadowlands and over in NY. He just loved the game.

[chrisforbes]

One of my favorite things is watching the horses working out in the morning, talking to the various jocks and jockey agents, trainers and then watching the horse I saw working out win a race and I have been in the winner's circle several times (not at parx ha ha) and that is always a thrill and there is quite a cast of characters in the backside trust me

chris forbes