dylbert
12-03-2006, 03:13 PM
I attended races at Delta Downs Friday night and was treated to some excellent racing. Here's my report about racing and facility...
Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, about five miles from Louisiana/Texas border. One must very much want to go there to find THERE. It is six-furlong track with three-furlong chute -- it is best described is that it is a bullring attached to a quarterhorse strip... The facility is one big hodge-podge. Where one would expect grandstand seating is OTB parlor. Where one would expect clubhouse seating is buffet. Boyd's Gaming who owns this facility, also owns several gaming properties, including The Orleans in Las Vegas that is widely regarded as one of better racebooks there. Boyd's should consider bringing some of its Vegas ambiance to 'da Bayou.
The personnel encountered were excellent. An extremely friendly and helpful worker from OTB area gave me in her words, "the penny tour." Clean, rebuilt complex as Hurricane Rita damaged or destroyed most of the racetrack, casino, barns and support structures. She showed me where grandstand was located and I found seat in mostly empty facility about one hour prior to first post. It filled with patrons as first race approached. Cowboy hats, boots, brushpoppers were standard attire. No dresses, blazers, or other formal wear spotted at this Friday night event...
Race fans were super, too. I couldn't get twenty dollar bill accepted in autotote machine. Gentleman at next machine handed my one of his without question (and his worked). How often does that happen at your local track or OTB? Well, let's go to the races!
Feature race -- 4th running of $1 million Grade III The Boyd's Gaming Delta Jackpot -- the richest race in North America for 2-year old thoroughbreds was main attraction. As I had posted earlier in week, I was going to see (and bet on) Birdbirdistheword, and I was not disappointed. He ran super race sweeping from next-to-last to first as he moved down backstretch and through final turn. At top of the lane, he surged ahead followed by Pirates Deputy who rallied from last to second. I would suggest that you go to drf.com and read pdf chart for Delta Downs, December 1, 8th race, for complete details.
Birdbirdistheword will winter in Florida for Kenny McPeak. Should make for interesting winter of racing for 2007 3-year old crop. Pirates Deputy looked extremely sharp from Bob Baffert barn. The rest of this field was unimpressive.
Delta Princess for 2YO fillies let Miss Atlantic City show that she is talented freshman. She defeated Grade I winners, Appealing Zophie, who finished second, and Meadow Breeze, who finished last.
Hey, don't write-off these horses that run well at these off-the-beaten path racetracks!
Delta Downs is located in Vinton, Louisiana, about five miles from Louisiana/Texas border. One must very much want to go there to find THERE. It is six-furlong track with three-furlong chute -- it is best described is that it is a bullring attached to a quarterhorse strip... The facility is one big hodge-podge. Where one would expect grandstand seating is OTB parlor. Where one would expect clubhouse seating is buffet. Boyd's Gaming who owns this facility, also owns several gaming properties, including The Orleans in Las Vegas that is widely regarded as one of better racebooks there. Boyd's should consider bringing some of its Vegas ambiance to 'da Bayou.
The personnel encountered were excellent. An extremely friendly and helpful worker from OTB area gave me in her words, "the penny tour." Clean, rebuilt complex as Hurricane Rita damaged or destroyed most of the racetrack, casino, barns and support structures. She showed me where grandstand was located and I found seat in mostly empty facility about one hour prior to first post. It filled with patrons as first race approached. Cowboy hats, boots, brushpoppers were standard attire. No dresses, blazers, or other formal wear spotted at this Friday night event...
Race fans were super, too. I couldn't get twenty dollar bill accepted in autotote machine. Gentleman at next machine handed my one of his without question (and his worked). How often does that happen at your local track or OTB? Well, let's go to the races!
Feature race -- 4th running of $1 million Grade III The Boyd's Gaming Delta Jackpot -- the richest race in North America for 2-year old thoroughbreds was main attraction. As I had posted earlier in week, I was going to see (and bet on) Birdbirdistheword, and I was not disappointed. He ran super race sweeping from next-to-last to first as he moved down backstretch and through final turn. At top of the lane, he surged ahead followed by Pirates Deputy who rallied from last to second. I would suggest that you go to drf.com and read pdf chart for Delta Downs, December 1, 8th race, for complete details.
Birdbirdistheword will winter in Florida for Kenny McPeak. Should make for interesting winter of racing for 2007 3-year old crop. Pirates Deputy looked extremely sharp from Bob Baffert barn. The rest of this field was unimpressive.
Delta Princess for 2YO fillies let Miss Atlantic City show that she is talented freshman. She defeated Grade I winners, Appealing Zophie, who finished second, and Meadow Breeze, who finished last.
Hey, don't write-off these horses that run well at these off-the-beaten path racetracks!