Weird, Odd, Strange things you have seen at the track?

[TraderX]

I woud like to hear some of the odd things you have seen or heard at the track? Could be a race, a person, a jockey, trainer or horse. Lets face it, we have all seen some strange things happen at the track. Tell me the weird stuff you have seen?

I'll start off: November 17th, 2013. Race 5 Aqueduct. A fog bank rolls in completely covering the track. The race should have been canceled or delayed, but it wasn't. The announcer couldn't even see the horses running. The horse that won the race was named "Foggy Road". We all know God loves horseplayers, maybe he was trying to give us a hint of the winner?

Philadelphia Park May 2013. Very fat angry drunken man from New York watched his longshot get bumped, then beaten handily by the favorite. Fat angry drunken man whips a loaded hotdog like a major league pitcher at winning jockey near the winners circle. Jockey is cracked hard on the side of the head, by said flying weiner and appears stunned. Reish and mustard drips down jockeys face, It was quite a spectacle, I assure you. Drunken fatty handcuffed and taken away.

Lets hear your stories.

[Stillriledup]

I woud like to hear some of the odd things you have seen or heard at the track? Could be a race, a person, a jockey, trainer or horse. Lets face it, we have all seen some strange things happen at the track. Tell me the weird stuff you have seen?

I'll start off: November 17th, 2013. Race 5 Aqueduct. A fog bank rolls in completely covering the track. The race should have been canceled or delayed, but it wasn't. The announcer couldn't even see the horses running. The horse that won the race was named "Foggy Road". We all know God loves horseplayers, maybe he was trying to give us a hint of the winner?

Philadelphia Park May 2013. Very fat angry drunken man from New York watched his longshot get bumped, then beaten handily by the favorite. Fat angry drunken man whips a loaded hotdog like a major league pitcher at winning jockey near the winners circle. Jockey is cracked hard on the side of the head, by said flying weiner and appears stunned. Reish and mustard drips down jockeys face, It was quite a spectacle, I assure you. Drunken fatty handcuffed and taken away.

Lets hear your stories.


Do you know the exact day of the Parx hot dog incident and the race? I'll watch the replay, sometimes they show the winners circle and unsaddling, maybe it got recorded?

[EMD4ME]

2008 Belmont Stakes. 1st row 4th floor grandstand, right by the finish line. Sitting there with my ill mom and girlfriend. Animals bum rush the stairs and block everyone's view. Security gets intimidated and can't hold them back. I scream and shout as loud as I can (no curses) just specific and detailed words that describe what kind of inconsiderate trash that they are.

They threatened to wait for me to come down after the race and kill me. I said don't worry, I will get you before you get me,

End... I got all the people behind me to scream in unison, get the blank, outta our way. get the BLANK, outta our way.

It worked. They actually felt embarrassed, didn't know animals could get embarrassed and went back down the stairs.

Rooted Da Tara home, enjoyed the stretch run, left in peace, Trash went away.

[A. Pineda]

A horse - I think it was I Love You Dear - tried to bite another horse during the stretch run.

A horse - I think it was Wend - dumped its rider, ran into a wall, and suffered a broken nose.

A horseplayer taped two losing ticket halves together to form a "winning" exacta ticket, and was hauled away by HOL security, his feet never touching the ground.

A horseplayer at SA was in line to place a $200 Win wager on his horse when he glanced at the tote one last time. The odds on his horse were 2/1 but, instead of betting on his horse, he mistakenly bet #2, Norio Date, which paid $106 for the win. That guy walked away with $10,000+ stuffed in his pockets.

[thespaah]

I woud like to hear some of the odd things you have seen or heard at the track? Could be a race, a person, a jockey, trainer or horse. Lets face it, we have all seen some strange things happen at the track. Tell me the weird stuff you have seen?

I'll start off: November 17th, 2013. Race 5 Aqueduct. A fog bank rolls in completely covering the track. The race should have been canceled or delayed, but it wasn't. The announcer couldn't even see the horses running. The horse that won the race was named "Foggy Road". We all know God loves horseplayers, maybe he was trying to give us a hint of the winner?

Philadelphia Park May 2013. Very fat angry drunken man from New York watched his longshot get bumped, then beaten handily by the favorite. Fat angry drunken man whips a loaded hotdog like a major league pitcher at winning jockey near the winners circle. Jockey is cracked hard on the side of the head, by said flying weiner and appears stunned. Reish and mustard drips down jockeys face, It was quite a spectacle, I assure you. Drunken fatty handcuffed and taken away.

Lets hear your stories.
I think it was 1988. I was in the landscaping business. We had a 'landscaper's holiday' due to rain.
So I decided to head down to Monmouth
A few races into the afternoon, sea fog moved in. Thick as pea soup.
The track announce said "They're off. The announce was Roger something or other. Anyway funny line was "and you're on your own"...

[thespaah]

2008 Belmont Stakes. 1st row 4th floor grandstand, right by the finish line. Sitting there with my ill mom and girlfriend. Animals bum rush the stairs and block everyone's view. Security gets intimidated and can't hold them back. I scream and shout as loud as I can (no curses) just specific and detailed words that describe what kind of inconsiderate trash that they are.

They threatened to wait for me to come down after the race and kill me. I said don't worry, I will get you before you get me,

End... I got all the people behind me to scream in unison, get the blank, outta our way. get the BLANK, outta our way.

It worked. They actually felt embarrassed, didn't know animals could get embarrassed and went back down the stairs.

Rooted Da Tara home, enjoyed the stretch run, left in peace, Trash went away.
Proof that even in NY, public shaming WORKS!

[EMD4ME]

A horse - I think it was I Love You Dear - tried to bite another horse during the stretch run.

A horse - I think it was Wend - dumped its rider, ran into a wall, and suffered a broken nose.

A horseplayer taped two losing ticket halves together to form a "winning" exacta ticket, and was hauled away by HOL security, his feet never touching the ground.

A horseplayer at SA was in line to place a $200 Win wager on his horse when he glanced at the tote one last time. The odds on his horse were 2/1 but, instead of betting on his horse, he mistakenly bet #2, Norio Date, which paid $106 for the win. That guy walked away with $10,000+ stuffed in his pockets.

Why would HOL security haul him away? Lol. I've seen much worse happen with no escort out.

[EMD4ME]

Proof that even in NY, public shaming WORKS!

Those same people that backed me up, ended up booing me a bit as I screamed for Da Tara in the lane.

I still remember Big Brown stopping at the 1/16 pole (in his walk back from being eased). Wow, many claps to appreciate the horse but many boos for Kent... Weird moment.

[jballscalls]

At river downs while hanging out in the pan camera room between races, we saw a prostitute walk out to her car and have a 3 way with a couple horse players in a pick up truck. She came and met this guy every friday and this particular day, they met a new friend on the apron. It was during the 7 and 7 days with Thistledown and luckily it went down while Thistle was running, so our pan camera guy shot the whole thing as the old parking lot went out to the side, not behind the track.

I don't know if this counts as weird as much as sad, but walked into the bathroom after a day at Portland Meadows and a guy was on the floor in stall in cardiac arrest. Ran and called 911 while trainer Nick Lowe tried CPR but no luck. He was a long time regular at the track. Very sad.

[Let's Roll]

Still don't really know if this is true, saw it in the PP's...

Sunday morning, November 7, 2004 at Belmont Park, horse named Deputy Storm works 3f.

Sunday afternoon, November 7, 2004 at Churchill Downs, Deputy Storm wins the 7th race.


Maybe it was a typo or there were 2 horses with that name...........

[BettinBilly]

I'm guessing about 28 years ago (give or take) at Finger Lakes.

Girl seated about 5 rows in front of me flashed her chest to a guy across from her. My Girlfriend spotted it first and shook my arm and said, "Look, that Chick is flashing someone!" I just caught the tail end (so to speak) of her covering back up.
Then, almost immediately the guy she flashed flashed her back. He was a little overweight and had some man boobs and a belly on him, so it was a bit sad. Funny, but sad.

My girlfriend said something like "These people really get into racing here.", and that was the end of it.

That's the only time at a track I EVER saw anyone "flash" anyone else. I've seen it at biker rallies, and rock concerts, but NEVER at a Race Track.

Too bad cell phones and their built in cameras were not invented yet. That would have been good for Youtube.

[EMD4ME]

I'm guessing about 28 years ago (give or take) at Finger Lakes.

Girl seated about 5 rows in front of me flashed her chest to a guy across from her. My Girlfriend spotted it first and shook my arm and said, "Look, that Chick is flashing someone!" I just caught the tail end (so to speak) of her covering back up.
Then, almost immediately the guy she flashed flashed her back. He was a little overweight and had some man boobs and a belly on him, so it was a bit sad. Funny, but sad.

My girlfriend said something like "These people really get into racing here.", and that was the end of it.

That's the only time at a track I EVER saw anyone "flash" anyone else. I've seen it at biker rallies, and rock concerts, but NEVER at a Race Track.

Too bad cell phones and their built in cameras were not invented yet. That would have been good for Youtube.

Love it!!! Attendance would go way up! Amongst other things :jump:

[JustRalph]

In the mid seventies I was at Beulah Park with my dad. I was a teenager. We went walking through a restaurant area looking for one of my dad's buddies. A race was running and as it finished up a lady at one of the tables starting celebrating loudly. She stood up and started dancing around, obviously she was going to cash a nice price. As she turned around and danced I recognized her as my aunt Joyce who lived across town. She was married to my moms brother, my uncle Junior. They were known to come out to the track often.

I stopped and watched as she hugged and kissed the guy who was sitting with her, while he was still sitting down with his back to us. I caught up with my dad and told him. We found my dad's buddy and on the way back through my dad said something like "let's stop and congratulate your aunt and uncle on their big ticket, and see what they cashed on". As we got closer to the table she was sitting on uncle Juniors lap laughing and joking.

We got closer and I exclaimed " Hi Aunt Joyce!" She sprang up from her perch on his lap and tried to quickly compose herself, while saying hi to my dad.

As we took a couple more steps it was obvious her companion wasn't good ole uncle Junior. It was a man that was unknown to me. My dad said a quick hello and we scurried away..........my dad made it perfectly clear to me on the way home that I was to say nothing to anyone to about our encounter with "Aunt Joyce" :lol:

Years later I found out that she was with her ex husband.......... :bang:

A few years after this event uncle Junior had a new wife............

[TBD]

I was at Tampa Bay Downs last year after the season was over. I was wagering at different tracks and one of them happened to be Calder. The race at Calder finished and I thought I had lost. Then the inquiry sign went up. Like always the announcer stated hold all tickets. They kept showing the replay of the foul in the home stretch over and over. The Stewards changed the order of finish. I now had the winner. At this point I can see the people at the track throwing their losing tickets away. Tossing them in the garbage cans, on the floor, on counters. I am setting there waiting to see the payoffs. The live feed from Calder goes out. All the Calder monitors were blue. After about what seemed like thirty minutes the Calder monitors came back up. They declared a no race. People everywhere were flipping garbage cans over, digging through garbage, grabbing the dust pans of the cleaning crews. It was chaos. From what I could gather, while attempting to reload the tote board at Calder it got dumped.

[thaskalos]

There is a horse-playing acquaintance of mine whom I have known for about 30 years now. I'll call him "Victor". Victor was once the proud owner of two bakeries, and two paid-off, four-flat apartment buildings. But he met with more than his fair share of bad luck at the track...and he has currently been rendered homeless, and living in his car. But his car is a relatively new Audi...and all of us who know him have been wondering how he has been able to still hold on to this car after all this "misfortune" that he has encountered at the track.

Well...I ran into Victor about a year ago...and he was even more somber than usual. When we struck up a conversation...he told me his new tale of woe...which I will relay to you in his own words:

"I really screwed up this time, Gus. I don't know what came over me. I had the money in my hand, and started to go to the bank to make my car payment two months ago...but I glanced at the DRF with the next day's races...and decided that the day looked promising enough for me to double my money -- so I could make the payment, and still have the money left over. So I came to the OTB instead. It was a freaking disaster. No freaking rhyme or reason.

So the car payment comes double for the next month. But I make good money as a chef in the restaurant where I work....so I again had the money for the double-payment the NEXT month. But instead of making the payment...I went to the OTB again...and again I lost everything. Damnedest thing you ever saw! Impossible-looking horses beating me in every race.

The bank isn't fooling around with me this time...and I am told that I have to make up the missed payments right away...or my car will be repossessed. I work and raise up the money again...and again I start heading for the bank to make the now long-overdue car payment. But as I am waiting at a stoplight on my way to the bank...I ask myself: What are the odds that I will lose the money, three times in a row?

So I turn and drive to the OTB again. What a freaking idiot I was. How can you trust this game with serious money? Un-freaking-believable!"

So, my friend Victor lost the nice car to repossession...and he now gets a ride to the OTB from another degenerate horseplayer -- with whom he now shares a basement apartment.

Be careful out there, ladies and gentlemen...

[onefast99]

Monmouth Park race 12 this past Sunday the 7 drops his rider takes off and runs around the track 2x. The outrider finally catches him. While this is going on the 8 drops his rider and heads into the valet parking area. They eventually get him and as they are bringing him in the 7 gets loose again and then the 8 gets loose again. The crowd was roaring as the 7 came by the stands for the third time! Both horses scratch and it sets up for the 10 to come home from dead last and pays $46+....

[Exotic1]

A horse - I think it was I Love You Dear - tried to bite another horse during the stretch run.

A horse - I think it was Wend - dumped its rider, ran into a wall, and suffered a broken nose.

A horseplayer taped two losing ticket halves together to form a "winning" exacta ticket, and was hauled away by HOL security, his feet never touching the ground.

A horseplayer at SA was in line to place a $200 Win wager on his horse when he glanced at the tote one last time. The odds on his horse were 2/1 but, instead of betting on his horse, he mistakenly bet #2, Norio Date, which paid $106 for the win. That guy walked away with $10,000+ stuffed in his pockets.

Good story.

I transpose program #'s with odds all the time. You think I would once collect.

[johnhannibalsmith]

TnpxMHOAo1o

[TheEdge07]

There is a horse-playing acquaintance of mine whom I have known for about 30 years now. I'll call him "Victor". Victor was once the proud owner of two bakeries, and two paid-off, four-flat apartment buildings. But he met with more than his fair share of bad luck at the track...and he has currently been rendered homeless, and living in his car. But his car is a relatively new Audi...and all of us who know him have been wondering how he has been able to still hold on to this car after all this "misfortune" that he has encountered at the track.

Well...I ran into Victor about a year ago...and he was even more somber than usual. When we struck up a conversation...he told me his new tale of woe...which I will relay to you in his own words:

"I really screwed up this time, Gus. I don't know what came over me. I had the money in my hand, and started to go to the bank to make my car payment two months ago...but I glanced at the DRF with the next day's races...and decided that the day looked promising enough for me to double my money -- so I could make the payment, and still have the money left over. So I came to the OTB instead. It was a freaking disaster. No freaking rhyme or reason.

So the car payment comes double for the next month. But I make good money as a chef in the restaurant where I work....so I again had the money for the double-payment the NEXT month. But instead of making the payment...I went to the OTB again...and again I lost everything. Damnedest thing you ever saw! Impossible-looking horses beating me in every race.

The bank isn't fooling around with me this time...and I am told that I have to make up the missed payments right away...or my car will be repossessed. I work and raise up the money again...and again I start heading for the bank to make the now long-overdue car payment. But as I am waiting at a stoplight on my way to the bank...I ask myself: What are the odds that I will lose the money, three times in a row?

So I turn and drive to the OTB again. What a freaking idiot I was. How can you trust this game with serious money? Un-freaking-believable!"

So, my friend Victor lost the nice car to repossession...and he now gets a ride to the OTB from another degenerate horseplayer -- with whom he now shares a basement apartment.

Be careful out there, ladies and gentlemen...

Sad..theres a story like this in every track..
Dad always said decisions reveal your priorities!

[BettinBilly]

In the mid seventies I was at Beulah Park with my dad. ..................

As we took a couple more steps it was obvious her companion wasn't good ole uncle Junior. It was a man that was unknown to me. My dad said a quick hello and we scurried away..........my dad made it perfectly clear to me on the way home that I was to say nothing to anyone to about our encounter with "Aunt Joyce" :lol:

Years later I found out that she was with her ex husband.......... :bang:

A few years after this event uncle Junior had a new wife............

Great story Ralph. Thanks for posting. Didn't know you used to go to Beulah as a teen. I am going to miss that track.

[JustRalph]

Great story Ralph. Thanks for posting. Didn't know you used to go to Beulah as a teen. I am going to miss that track.

Grew up in Columbus, my wife and I lived there for the first 15 yrs we were married ( I met her in the service in Maine in 86) left Columbus in 2002 and have lived in LA-Cleveland-Charlotte-just Outside Baltimore and in Texas the last 2 years.

Approx 2 yrs in each location. The wife's job moved us around. The wife changed jobs last year and we are staying in Texas unless some extraordinary offer comes along. The wife has family in Houston.

My dad taught me to drive a car in the Beulah Parking lot. We spent many a Saturday night at Scioto Downs too. :ThmbUp:

[rrpic6]

TnpxMHOAo1o

Thanks for saving me the time to find that video, as that incident was my pick for this topic. I was sitting near the Security Room at Pimlico when they brought that guy in. They beat him to a pulp! We were calling him Duk-Koo Kim.

RR

[v j stauffer]

Memory still very vague to this day. May very well have not actually happened given the enormity of the odds. Weird, odd and strange does apply.

Fri. Dec. 26th 1985 I had a winning day!!!

[tanner12oz]

Pretty sure that was the beginning of the end for bringing booze into the track...lasted a few more years but doubt it helped matters

[BettinBilly]

Grew up in Columbus, my wife and I lived there for the first 15 yrs we were married ( I met her in the service in Maine in 86) left Columbus in 2002 and have lived in LA-Cleveland-Charlotte-just Outside Baltimore and in Texas the last 2 years.

Approx 2 yrs in each location. The wife's job moved us around. The wife changed jobs last year and we are staying in Texas unless some extraordinary offer comes along. The wife has family in Houston.

My dad taught me to drive a car in the Beulah Parking lot. We spent many a Saturday night at Scioto Downs too. :ThmbUp:

Very good. Nice town, Columbus. A big little city now. With Beulah gone, it's Scioto or the small sports book at the new Hollywood Casino on the far west side (where the old Westland Mall used to be).

[Longshot6977]

2003 or 2004, Saturday evening Freehold racetrack in downstairs level (Billy's Room). A big guy who always wore a red windbreaker with Hornets monogram on it (don't know what team it was, just had yellow hornets embroidered on it) seen betting every Saturday night kept asking people to 'borrow' a few bucks. Every week same story about he'll pay you back etc. He seemed to never win a race. But tonite, I saw some tears in his eyes. A little later, someone yells "get an ambulance in here". The dude dropped dead right where the snack bar is in the aisle. Weird thing is, people just stepped over him to get to the SAM machines and snack bar and tellers like nothing happened and they couldn't be bothered. They put him on a stretcher and wheeled him off never to be seen again. :eek:

[moneyandland]

There is a horse-playing acquaintance of mine whom I have known for about 30 years now. I'll call him "Victor". Victor was once the proud owner of two bakeries, and two paid-off, four-flat apartment buildings. But he met with more than his fair share of bad luck at the track...and he has currently been rendered homeless, and living in his car. But his car is a relatively new Audi...and all of us who know him have been wondering how he has been able to still hold on to this car after all this "misfortune" that he has encountered at the track.

Well...I ran into Victor about a year ago...and he was even more somber than usual. When we struck up a conversation...he told me his new tale of woe...which I will relay to you in his own words:

"I really screwed up this time, Gus. I don't know what came over me. I had the money in my hand, and started to go to the bank to make my car payment two months ago...but I glanced at the DRF with the next day's races...and decided that the day looked promising enough for me to double my money -- so I could make the payment, and still have the money left over. So I came to the OTB instead. It was a freaking disaster. No freaking rhyme or reason.

So the car payment comes double for the next month. But I make good money as a chef in the restaurant where I work....so I again had the money for the double-payment the NEXT month. But instead of making the payment...I went to the OTB again...and again I lost everything. Damnedest thing you ever saw! Impossible-looking horses beating me in every race.

The bank isn't fooling around with me this time...and I am told that I have to make up the missed payments right away...or my car will be repossessed. I work and raise up the money again...and again I start heading for the bank to make the now long-overdue car payment. But as I am waiting at a stoplight on my way to the bank...I ask myself: What are the odds that I will lose the money, three times in a row?

So I turn and drive to the OTB again. What a freaking idiot I was. How can you trust this game with serious money? Un-freaking-believable!"

So, my friend Victor lost the nice car to repossession...and he now gets a ride to the OTB from another degenerate horseplayer -- with whom he now shares a basement apartment.

Be careful out there, ladies and gentlemen...


A gambler never makes the same mistake twice.
It’s usually three or more times.
Terrence Murphy, a.k.a. “VP Pappy”

[thespaah]

Memory still very vague to this day. May very well have not actually happened given the enormity of the odds. Weird, odd and strange does apply.

Fri. Dec. 26th 1985 I had a winning day!!!
Vic, you're a true gem!

[glengarry]

Roosevelt Raceway, in the seventies. A horse jumps or goes through the rail, sulky and all, and falls in the lake in the infield. The poor horse drowns. The name of the horse? Out of Bounds. He sure was.

[moneyandland]

Probably the most funniest/desperate rooting attempt I ever saw was at simulcast, unfortunately this was back late 90's before cell cameras, I can remember it was a race at The Meadowlands harness and there was a small wiry guy actually hanging on with both hands and feet off the ground from tv's hanging from the ceiling, yelling, "hit 'em with the whip Catman!", Manzi sat motionless through the lane, got nipped, the guy hung from the TV for the entire replay in hope it would change the outcome I guess

[nearco]

2003 or 2004, Saturday evening Freehold racetrack in downstairs level (Billy's Room). A big guy who always wore a red windbreaker with Hornets monogram on it (don't know what team it was, just had yellow hornets embroidered on it) seen betting every Saturday night kept asking people to 'borrow' a few bucks. Every week same story about he'll pay you back etc. He seemed to never win a race. But tonite, I saw some tears in his eyes. A little later, someone yells "get an ambulance in here". The dude dropped dead right where the snack bar is in the aisle. Weird thing is, people just stepped over him to get to the SAM machines and snack bar and tellers like nothing happened and they couldn't be bothered. They put him on a stretcher and wheeled him off never to be seen again. :eek:

:eek: :eek: :eek:
WTF kind of people are those?

[Augenj]

Memory still very vague to this day. May very well have not actually happened given the enormity of the odds. Weird, odd and strange does apply.

Fri. Dec. 26th 1985 I had a winning day!!!
That's really funny, Vic. I can relate.

Only thing I can add to this post is what I read in the newspaper about Santa Anita where some woman hit a big exacta and was waving it around above her head with "I won! I won!". Some guy snatched it from her and disappeared into the parking lot, never to be seen again.

One other thing. I used to play Hollywood back in the 70's. It was always the $5 Exacta in the 4th race, back when exotics were few. I'd go over there from work which was nearby. It was usually a speed favoring sprint and I "knew it all" since I was using a mainframe computer to make my picks. Somehow, and someway, the program had picked a 15/1 and 20/1 as 1st and 2nd on this day. Unbeknownst to me, a young guy from work playing my picks made the bet but tried to give it back to the teller after his dad talked him out of it. The clerk left it out where somebody might buy it which somebody did at the last minute. Of course, the horses won by about 10 lengths and almost in a dead heat. I had them boxed, of course and it paid $1,327.50 on the $10 box. The kid was devastated. As a sad side note, and years later, his dad committed suicide and took his wife with him. I'm sure the exacta thing was unrelated.

[TheEdge07]

:eek: :eek: :eek:
WTF kind of people are those?

Degenerate gamblers

Did you ever read the Bowie train wreck? this story doesn't have shit on that story.
The 11-car Pennsylvania Railroad train, pulled by two locomotives, was six minutes late when it stopped in Baltimore. Among those who climbed aboard was Ann Siravo, a city woman who owned Miss Melisande, a horse running in the third race. In her pocketbook was $45 to bet for her friends and neighbors.

At Bowie, the train would swing off the mainline for the three-mile journey to the track, where it would lay over until the races ended. In a weathered shack at the junction, Pennsy employee Charles W. Smith, 26, waited to turn the switch as the trains entered and left the racetrack spur.

That morning, the first train had left the mainline, and Smith was waiting for the second, which was due at 12: 55 p.m. but was running three minutes late. "As Smith saw it coming around the curve he checked the switch and gave the 'O.K.' sign to the engineer high in the big diesel locomotive. The engineer signaled back with two high wails on the diesel horn," The Sun reported.

Suddenly, the two 335,000-ton engines lunged into the air, ripping up hundreds of feet of track as they careened over a 15-foot embankment, dragging two coaches down with them. As the remaining cars crumpled along the track, passengers were "thrown around like rag dolls," said one person on board.

The shouts of the injured

The air was filled with the sound of groaning metal, breaking glass and the shouts of the dying and injured.

"I was just returning back to the hut when I saw the train jump a little in the air and then disappear over the bank," Smith told The Sun. "I didn't see anything more because I jumped over the bank, too. I wasn't going to wait around and see whether those cars fell on me."

The wreckage came to a stop a few hundred feet from where Smith was huddling in the woods. "I could see passengers running through the wrecked cars and smashing windows to get out," he told the newspaper.

Racing back to his shack, he picked up the phone and shouted to Ed Weidner, a railroader at the end of the Bowie spur, "It's wrecked, Ed." Then he called the fire and police departments.

Six people were killed and nearly 243 hurt in the accident. Among the dead were two people who were crushed when the bottom of their coach was ripped apart by the derailment and they fell under the train.

Adding to the tragedy was the unfortunate behavior of some passengers. Many of those who weren't hurt just stood around or, worse, climbed over the injured and dying and started walking toward the track, determined not to miss the day's races.


http://articles.baltimoresun.com/images/pixel.gif
"Horseplayers are a resolute breed," said The Sun.

One middle-aged man who limped up to the track's gate, his face blackened and his clothes disheveled, was told by the attendant that he ought to go to a hospital. His reply: "I'll get straightened out later. I got to get a bet on the fourth race. I came all the way from Philadelphia to play this horse."

Others saw the big picture. John Negra told The Sun, "I'd rather have got out of it [alive] than win all the daily doubles in the world."

At the official inquiry conducted in Washington by the Interstate Commerce Commission several weeks later, engineer Harold W. Horner, 62, claimed frozen brakes caused his train to jump the rails.

"Nothing at all happened when I pulled the brakes. We just kept on going. Oh, I hate to think about it," reported The Sun. "I pulled everything I was doing everything to get the train to stop. But nothing worked."

He added, "I don't remember anything else. All of a sudden there I was with the engine on its side. I would have died if it hadn't been for the fireman. He pulled me out." A minute later he said, "God saved my life and the fireman's. I just wish it hadn't happened to all those other people." Then, The Sun reported, "He broke down, his body shivering with long, silent sobs."

The train's fireman, William C. Wyatt, also believed the extreme cold had frozen the brake line. "We had no brakes," he said.

A different conclusion

But after conducting tests on the train's equipment and examining its speed tapes, the ICC arrived at a different &L conclusion -- that the train was going too fast when it reached the junction.

The Evening Sun reported that speed tapes showed the train "crossed the Patuxent River Bridge less than a mile from the accident scene at 62 miles an hour. The railroad apparently wants to show the train entered the race track spur from the mainline at such a high speed that even the application of emergency brakes could not have prevented it from

[Stillriledup]

:eek: :eek: :eek:
WTF kind of people are those?

What should they have done instead?

[nearco]

Degenerate gamblers



Why not call them what they really are.... addicts.

[TheEdge07]

What should they have done instead?

Classic..

[tampahorseplayer]

Do you just say what you know will inflame people to piss people off? They could have shown a little empathy and class and not step over a dying or already dead man to place your pick 3 bet. Would you have stepped over him or would you have prayed that he would be ok or his soul rest in peace?I agree that gamblers are of a certain breed, one that sometimes I ashamed to be of (not that everyone is bad, but it seems gamblers have the most concetrated degens)

[nearco]

What should they have done instead?

Shown a bit of respect.
Stepping over a dead or dying person to get to a snack bar or a teller is lowlife move.

[cmp92]

Last year I saw 99-1 finish first and second at Saratoga Harness.

Paid $251.50, $154.00, $28.60

Place horse paid $34.40 and $21.80

Show horse paid $26.20

Exacta paid $984.00
Triple paid $6289.00
Super paid $47,191.00

Unfortunately, I have seen some nasty wrecks in harness racing. Last summer I saw a bad one at Buffalo Raceway.

[wiffleball whizz]

What should they have done instead?

Hahahahahaha......100 percent what I thought to myself....

No they should just sit there and stare at the dead

At favorites in Woodbridge (people's favorite place here) it was a Friday afternoon dead of winter guy watcjing freehold in the front corner falls backwards having a apparent heart attack 30 people circle around him not to help him but to get closer to the tv to watch the strech drive with a 1/5 and 9/5 7 clear of the field

I ask what's possibly worse.....ignoring the guy or people trying to get a $5.40 exacta home.....but it is Woodbridge otb so expect nothing different!!!

[Dahoss2002]

One of the best:

http://articles.latimes.com/1990-01-19/sports/sp-477_1_sylvester-carmouche

[TheEdge07]

Hahahahahaha......100 percent what I thought to myself....

No they should just sit there and stare at the dead

At favorites in Woodbridge (people's favorite place here) it was a Friday afternoon dead of winter guy watcjing freehold in the front corner falls backwards having a apparent heart attack 30 people circle around him not to help him but to get closer to the tv to watch the strech drive with a 1/5 and 9/5 7 clear of the field

I ask what's possibly worse.....ignoring the guy or people trying to get a $5.40 exacta home.....but it is Woodbridge otb so expect nothing different!!!

This is priceless

[Pigpen]

I went to Blue Ribbon Downs on a Friday to play the simulcast. They were running QH trials live. I heard a commotion after one of the trials were over so I went out and looked at the track and saw the horse that won was 99-1 but a closer look at the board I noticed the horse had only $2 bet on it to win and $0 to place. I finally went back to find the chart online. I will try to post the screenshot.

[DJofSD]

I'm hard pressed to come up with anything stranger than the deranged dude that tried to run with the horses down the stretch at Del Mar. While the details are fading with time, I still recall sitting in my seat with my race track buds seeing it unfold and wondering what in the heck was this guy trying to do and how did he get onto the track.

[JustRalph]

Why not call them what they really are.... addicts.


pragmatist
A pragmatist is someone who is pragmatic, that is to say, someone who is practical and focused on reaching a goal. A pragmatist usually has a straightforward, matter-of-fact approach and doesn't let emotion distract her.

[wiffleball whizz]

This is priceless

Should be a rule if a guy is dying and your trying to get closer to the tv at least make sure the exacta is paying $21.40.....

I'll draw a picture of the scene when I get home..... Texting doesn't do it justice

[TheEdge07]

Should be a rule if a guy is dying and your trying to get closer to the tv at least make sure the exacta is paying $21.40.....

I'll draw a picture of the scene when I get home..... Texting doesn't do it justice

Wiff did you read my post about the Bowie train wreck heres some of it?

Adding to the tragedy was the unfortunate behavior of some passengers. Many of those who weren't hurt just stood around or, worse, climbed over the injured and dying and started walking toward the track, determined not to miss the day's races.


http://articles.baltimoresun.com/images/pixel.gif
"Horseplayers are a resolute breed," said The Sun.

One middle-aged man who limped up to the track's gate, his face blackened and his clothes disheveled, was told by the attendant that he ought to go to a hospital. His reply: "I'll get straightened out later. I got to get a bet on the fourth race. I came all the way from Philadelphia to play this horse."

Others saw the big picture. John Negra told The Sun, "I'd rather have got out of it [alive] than win all the daily doubles in the world."

[wiffleball whizz]

Wiff did you read my post about the Bowie train wreck heres some of it?

Adding to the tragedy was the unfortunate behavior of some passengers. Many of those who weren't hurt just stood around or, worse, climbed over the injured and dying and started walking toward the track, determined not to miss the day's races.


http://articles.baltimoresun.com/images/pixel.gif
"Horseplayers are a resolute breed," said The Sun.

One middle-aged man who limped up to the track's gate, his face blackened and his clothes disheveled, was told by the attendant that he ought to go to a hospital. His reply: "I'll get straightened out later. I got to get a bet on the fourth race. I came all the way from Philadelphia to play this horse."

Others saw the big picture. John Negra told The Sun, "I'd rather have got out of it [alive] than win all the daily doubles in the world."

Yes it was a classic article.......the people that climbed over dead people to get action in should be given an award.....


Nothing unfortunate about people wanting to gamble

[Fingal]

Closing day at Hollywood Park. Among the crowd who took down signs & gathered other mementoes, here's this 10-12 year old little girl proudly carrying around a board that was as big as her with the arrow that directed you to " restrooms ".

And after the last race while leaving there was this buzzed guy on a pillar trying to take down one of those big 15 foot signs that directed you to the betting windows. When security came up behind him & asked what he was doing, he says " Oh it's OK, I work here "

[TheEdge07]

Should be a rule if a guy is dying and your trying to get closer to the tv at least make sure the exacta is paying $21.40.....

I'll draw a picture of the scene when I get home..... Texting doesn't do it justice

Clear you PMs Wiff

[porkchop]

It was the first year that SAM machines were introduced at Saratoga . My pal Teddy was bartending upstairs in the grandstand so I went up to have a drink with him. There was a row of machines next to the bar. There was about ten minutes to the next race. We noticed this guy at the machines pushing buttons and getting a little frustrated but didnt think much of it. Marshall Cassidy then announces 5 minutes to post and the guy starts pushing buttons like crazy , two minutes to post two minutes says cassidy now the guy is frantic , they are loading in the gate, guys like typing a thousands words a minute , suddenly cassidy says AND THEY ARE OFF . The guy throws his hand up in the air goes to TV and watches the race . The race finishes the guy gives the TV the finger walks back over to SAM machine and smashes the screen with his fist. There is blood splattered all over the guy is holding his hand blood dripping and leaves.Ted calls security and tells them what happened. About 45 minutes later the guy returns all bandaged up steps up to the bar and orders a jack on the rocks , 3 guys from security appear from out of nowhere and whisk him away never to be seen again. Wonder how much that cost him not only the race but the price of the machine

[Augenj]

I remember another time at Hollywood back in the 70's. There was a $10 window off by itself on the 2nd floor and some guy was standing there watching a monitor with the clerk poised to punch out a ticket for him. Laffit Pincay was on the 10 horse on the outside. (don't know how I remember this). Anyhow, the gate opened and the 10 broke well, maybe even in front. This guy yells "Go" to the clerk and he starts punching tickets as fast as he could. Back then the terminals were locked after the gate opened and you could hear them actually bang shut. I don't know how many tickets this guy got but it was several. And yes, the 10 won.

[wiffleball whizz]

Clear you PMs Wiff

Cleared

[ILovetheInner]

Aqueduct finale, down the stretch a filly Diane Nelson was on moving fine midstretch just dropped as if she died right on the spot. Thought she was dead, then Nelson crawled over and knelt on the ground cradled the filly's head on her lap. Crusty bettors right there by the rail just stared, transfixed. Not sure what the heck happened, but when help arrived the filly shortly got up on her own power.

I was not there for this one, but on Harvey's show in the middle of winter someone actually caught one of those seagulls. Holding the enraged bird by the body, the fellow walked over to a distracted railbird and pointed the bird's head at his bottom and the bird gave him a hard bite. Yes....they closed the show with the scene. Middle of winter with not much happening, it was the highlight of the day, lol

[PhantomOnTour]

I once saw an actual, honest-to-goodness horse race, but that was long ago :D

[wiffleball whizz]

Aqueduct finale, down the stretch a filly Diane Nelson was on moving fine midstretch just dropped as if she died right on the spot. Thought she was dead, then Nelson crawled over and knelt on the ground cradled the filly's head on her lap. Crusty bettors right there by the rail just stared, transfixed. Not sure what the heck happened, but when help arrived the filly shortly got up on her own power.

I was not there for this one, but on Harvey's show in the middle of winter someone actually caught one of those seagulls. Holding the enraged bird by the body, the fellow walked over to a distracted railbird and pointed the bird's head at his bottom and the bird gave him a hard bite. Yes....they closed the show with the scene. Middle of winter with not much happening, it was the highlight of the day, lol


Hahahahahaha.......no holds barred at the A in the winter time.....nothing better

[BlueShoe]

Sunday, November 4, 1990, Arcadia, California, Santa Anita Park, Oaktree meeting.

As was our custom back then, several of us had gathered in the paddock gardens next to the walking ring in between races to discuss the upcoming race, the previous race, and so on.

It was before the 6th race and the horses had left the walking ring and were on the track. We were about to scatter, make our wagers, and go to our preferred vantage points. Just as we were about to go, suddenly we heard several loud what sounded like popping noises. Two or three of us knew at once what those sounds were, it was gunfire, and we tried to pinpoint where it was coming from and if we should dive for cover. We heard shouts and screams coming from the first level betting area and around the restaurant, just a few yards away from where we were sitting.

We stayed put, wondering what had happened, the upcoming race forgotten for the moment. A very few minutes later we got an answer, sort of. Several security guards marched a young black man in cuffs down the steps, passed by us a few yards away, and then took him out the east gate. We found out a bit later that a man had been shot and killed, in what we found out later had been a deliberate killing. The racetrack is not the place one would expect such things, but then again??
http://articles.latimes.com/1990-11-05/local/me-2860_1_santa-anita

[EMD4ME]

Sunday, November 4, 1990, Arcadia, California, Santa Anita Park, Oaktree meeting.

As was our custom back then, several of us had gathered in the paddock gardens next to the walking ring in between races to discuss the upcoming race, the previous race, and so on.

It was before the 6th race and the horses had left the walking ring and were on the track. We were about to scatter, make our wagers, and go to our preferred vantage points. Just as we were about to go, suddenly we heard several loud what sounded like popping noises. Two or three of us knew at once what those sounds were, it was gunfire, and we tried to pinpoint where it was coming from and if we should dive for cover. We heard shouts and screams coming from the first level betting area and around the restaurant, just a few yards away from where we were sitting.

We stayed put, wondering what had happened, the upcoming race forgotten for the moment. A very few minutes later we got an answer, sort of. Several security guards marched a young black man in cuffs down the steps, passed by us a few yards away, and then took him out the east gate. We found out a bit later that a man had been shot and killed, in what we found out later had been a deliberate killing. The racetrack is not the place one would expect such things, but then again??
http://articles.latimes.com/1990-11-05/local/me-2860_1_santa-anita

Woooowwww. I never knew that. I always thought the track was one of the safest places to be (in terms of violence, fights, etc.)

[Ocala Mike]

OK, I'm an old fart, so seen plenty of things that would qualify for this thread. They all pale in comparison to a day at Aqueduct that I will never forget, Friday, Nov. 22, 1963.

I was a senior at Queens College (actually in my 9th semester, because I didn't have enough credits to graduate in June), and decided to cut my afternoon classes and head for the track with my book bag in hand. Not long after the double, Fred Capposella announced the tragic news from Dallas, Texas, and the rest of the card was cancelled.

I'll always remember where I was and what I was doing when JFK got shot.

[alhattab]

Maybe not the strangest, but to me the scariest thing I've seen. I think it was in 2008 mid-card on a Sunday at Saratoga there's a maiden race. I'm standing on the very far side of the paddock near the Red Spring, leaning on the fence separating paddock from the backyard. McGaughey has one that is really headstrong coming in from the horse path. I think her name was Cheering. They put up the jock and she dumps the jock. Now by this time the Saratoga paddock has two resin "post and rail" type fences like they have now, and there is a gap between the two. The filly gets her front legs over the first fence then pulls her hind legs over, and takes off toward the grandstand while running between the fences. She stays in the lane though and turns back into the paddock where one of the assistants or grooms starts waving her arms, and the filly stopped and they got her. I can't fathom what would have happened if she got outside of those rails.

If I have the right horse, she never made a start and was never bred.

[TheEdge07]

[QUOTE=alhattab]Maybe not the strangest, but to me the scariest thing I've seen. I think it was in 2008 mid-card on a Sunday at Saratoga there's a maiden race. I'm standing on the very far side of the paddock near the Red Spring, leaning on the fence separating paddock from the backyard. McGaughey has one that is really headstrong coming in from the horse path. I think her name was Cheering. They put up the jock and she dumps the jock. Now by this time the Saratoga paddock has two resin "post and rail" type fences like they have now, and there is a gap between the two. The filly gets her front legs over the first fence then pulls her hind legs over, and takes off toward the grandstand while running between the fences. She stays in the lane though and turns back into the paddock where one of the assistants or grooms starts waving her arms, and the filly stopped and they got her. I can't fathom what would have happened if she got outside of those rails.

If I have the right horse, she never made a start and was never bred.[/QUOTE

Cheering never ran she was regally bred

[TheEdge07]

Maybe not the strangest, but to me the scariest thing I've seen. I think it was in 2008 mid-card on a Sunday at Saratoga there's a maiden race. I'm standing on the very far side of the paddock near the Red Spring, leaning on the fence separating paddock from the backyard. McGaughey has one that is really headstrong coming in from the horse path. I think her name was Cheering. They put up the jock and she dumps the jock. Now by this time the Saratoga paddock has two resin "post and rail" type fences like they have now, and there is a gap between the two. The filly gets her front legs over the first fence then pulls her hind legs over, and takes off toward the grandstand while running between the fences. She stays in the lane though and turns back into the paddock where one of the assistants or grooms starts waving her arms, and the filly stopped and they got her. I can't fathom what would have happened if she got outside of those rails.

If I have the right horse, she never made a start and was never bred.

Sire was Pulpit

Cheering (http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=7667542&registry=T)2006MarePulpit (http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=1442325&registry=T) On Parade (http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=4610273&registry=T)
Connections as of last Start:

Jockey: N/ATrainer: N/AOwner: N/ABreeder: Phipps Stable

[andtheyreoff]

Sire was Pulpit

Cheering (http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=7667542&registry=T)2006MarePulpit (http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=1442325&registry=T) On Parade (http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=4610273&registry=T)
Connections as of last Start:

Jockey: N/ATrainer: N/AOwner: N/ABreeder: Phipps Stable

Better yet, here's the chart of her non-existent first start.

http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=6&BorP=P&TID=SAR&CTRY=USA&DT=8/24/2008&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB

[alhattab]

Better yet, here's the chart of her non-existent first start.

http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=6&BorP=P&TID=SAR&CTRY=USA&DT=8/24/2008&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB

I didn't recall the name of the horse- had to scout out the chart. For a few years our Saratoga trip was Travers week so I looked at the Sunday maiden races.

[Zydeco]

Very good. Nice town, Columbus. A big little city now. With Beulah gone, it's Scioto or the small sports book at the new Hollywood Casino on the far west side (where the old Westland Mall used to be).

I think Just Ralph used to run the streets around Westland Mall....Me..I'm from the east side...Eastland Mall...Used to go to Scioto a lot in the late 70's.....saw Pete Rose there 3 or 4 times....but the best was Art Schlicter......Question.."How ya doin Art?" Answer.."Up a bit" This was while he was Ohio States QB....then he got drafted by the Baltimore Colts,,,,,Curtis on the Bay....take it from here! lol

[Billnewman]

I wasn't there to see it. About 20 years ago there was a story in American turf monthly about this degenerate(but not a loser just a bad run) that was in way over his head. He needed to come up with somewhere in the range 0f 30-40k to get out trouble. The story goes it was saratoga late 70's i believe. He managed to come up with 10g's calling in all his resources. He handicapped the whole card and picked his spot on a i think a 4/1 shot that he played to win. 10 grand to win on say the 7 horse. Here comes the unbelievable part. The horse won put the placing judges put up the wrong number. And the race was declared official before they realized their mistake. The man was so distraught and owed some pretty scary guys that he took his own life.

[Longshot]

In the early 80's I was at Delta one rainy Saturday night. Because
of the rain I was sitting in a lawn chair near a monitor inside on the
ground floor. I had noticed an attractive young blond lady who was
very very pregnant sitting in lawn chairs about 8 feet to my right with her husband.

While he was betting as I passed her and smiled and said "I hope you don't fold that colt tonight". She laughed and said her husband had only come out
to bet a horse in race 5 and they would be leaving.

You probably guessed but just after race 4 I heard a lot of noise to my right
and looked in time to see her break her water all over the floor.Track medical
members arrived and put up a set of screens around her. A doctor who I was told had been in the clubhouse came and what seemed like 10 or 15 minutes the baby was crying.

Not sure if the husband bet his horse in race 5.

[GPneighbor]

I saw a gentleman watching a race on a television at the track. At the top of the stretch his horse starts to make a big move on the outside. The guy gets up and with his rolled up program in his right hand he starts hitting the horse (with his program) on the television at the same time yelling “GO GO GO GO GO GO.” The horse is making up ground but not fast enough. Someone yells “change sticks, hit him left handed,” the guy switches the program to his left hand and starts hitting the horse on the TV with the program in his left hand. The wire came too fast and his horse ran second. It was funny though.

[WP1981]

Last year at a TuP otb, a guy hit a $6k tri at Santa Anita and started ecstatically celebrating with everyone in the bar. He announced that the drinks and food were on him for everyone in the place (around 25-30 of us).

He then starts looking for someone to cash the signer and finally informs everyone that his friend is going to do it and will be there in a few hours. Everyone was in such a good mood, including the sole waitress/bartender that was promised a $500 tip.

About an hour and a half into the celebration I see the guy step out the door and ride away like the wind on a ladies style Huffy ten speed. The teller confirms everyone's fear that he, nor any of the other local otb's had punched a winning ticket for that specific tri.

Everybody ponied up what they could but the waitress was still angry and was cursing this guy as a sociopath and thief throughout the night. Good times.

Fun fact: a few months later the same waitress would steal the entire $10k Superbowl square pool and $5k out of the bar office safe and split town.

[A. Pineda]

Chuck belonged to a group of players that would commandeer a large table at the SA Paddock Gardens. There were no seats but there was plenty of room to spread out the form, which probably accounted for its popularity. Everyone knew that Chuck had a bad ticker and, when he didn't show up for a couple of weeks, it was generally felt that he would not be seen again.

Surprisingly, Chuck strolls in one day wearing a big grin. The gang was so happy to see him that they failed to see what else he was wearing: a set of hospital pajamas and slippers, a hospital wristband, and a light windbreaker.

He stayed at the table for the entire card, waived goodbye, and was never seen again. While you probably can't say that he went out with his boots on, it is not unrealistic to believe that he had a racing form firmly in his grasp.

[JustRalph]

Chuck belonged to a group of players that would commandeer a large table at the SA Paddock Gardens. There were no seats but there was plenty of room to spread out the form, which probably accounted for its popularity. Everyone knew that Chuck had a bad ticker and, when he didn't show up for a couple of weeks, it was generally felt that he would not be seen again.

Surprisingly, Chuck strolls in one day wearing a big grin. The gang was so happy to see him that they failed to see what else he was wearing: a set of hospital pajamas and slippers, a hospital wristband, and a light windbreaker.

He stayed at the table for the entire card, waived goodbye, and was never seen again. While you probably can't say that he went out with his boots on, it is not unrealistic to believe that he had a racing form firmly in his grasp.

That's a great story. When I worked hospital security a week didn't go by that some old guy didn't walk off and come back that night. always wearing a robe or some kind of hospital get up. Nobody seems to ever call the hospital or police on them. Often they would take their IV pole and fluid with them. Which also cracks me up...........