Best Junk Food at the Races???

[strapper]

What snack do you either sneak in to the track or purchase once there? Popcorn, peanuts, or candy? Or do you eat one too many hot dogs?

[classhandicapper]

Clam Chowder. I love the stuff. :D

[dylbert]

and not all junk food either... :lol:

FG: Corned beef sandwich or oysters on the half shell...

LaD: Has a freakin' Fuddruckers! Enormous burgers or killer nachos... Plus, has racino buffet

DeD: Has food court with all sorts of junk food; and another racino buffet.

EvD: Food sucks... which is really sad to say for track located in heart of Cajun country :bang:

OP: Can go there without having Oaklawn Burger... or eating at one of many food venues OUTSIDE track

and for nostalgia, my late grandmother and I always went to Leonard's BBQ in Memphis prior to enjoying an evening at Southland Greyhound Park. And, she always smuggled in two white pork sandwiches dressed with coleslaw (just in case we got hungry) :jump: And, on way home we would stop by Krispy Kreme doughnuts near Graceland and get dozen assorted doughnuts. We would relive the evening's events into wee hours of the morning. Fond memories of my misguided youth...

ahhh, my misguided youth has led to my further misguided middle age... I am writing from New Orleans and will enjoy the above mentioned foods tomorrow. Already had sea scallops last night and oyster po-boy for lunch today...

[Overlay]

Not a thoroughbred track, but I used to like the knishes at Roosevelt Raceway out on Long Island.

[Watcher]

Hollywood Park - Asian stirfry w/ hot tea at Turf Club, but only on the rare cold days.

Lone Star Park - Cheese and cracker plate w/ scotch.

[jballscalls]

Emerald: hand carved roast beef sandwiches
Portland: Grilled Panini sandwich and soup special
Golden Gate: Fried Chicken
Santa Anita: hand carved sandwich with Saratoga chips
Sunland Park: Nachos
River downs: montgomery inn ribs
Turfway Park: the penn station down the street
Churchill Downs: reuben sandwich with mustard
Ellis Park: Como's for Pork chops
Mountaineer: the strip joint across the street
Thistledown: their clubhouse had pretty good food
Arlington: Gino's East Pizza
Indiana Downs: Turf club had really good food
Keeneland: Chili dogs or brats
Turf Paradise: been there 4 times and never eaten there
Los Alamitos: Vessels club salmon with rice

[DeanT]

I tend at the track to eat crow. It tastes awful.

[Donnie]

if you ever attend PRM, DO NOT miss the BBQ trailer they have out on the apron. I think the name of the local company that runs it is called The Rib Shack (?)....but the food is EXCELLENT!!!!

[Monty Capuletti]

Tampa = Cuban Sandwich

[DrugS]

Mountaineer: the strip joint across the street


I found the snapper there to be quite over priced at $25.

[JWBurnie]

In the late 80's, early 90's the pizza parlor at Pimlico was "the best ever". I can still taste it. Anyone remember?

[sandpit]

Hoosier Park's indoor clubhouse dining area has an excellent menu. I've eaten there about five times and the food has been outstanding every time. Wait staff was very attentive too. Not sure how the new casino has affected things, if at all.

[sandpit]

Oops, forgot to mention the hot dogs at Ellis Park. Big, jumbo jobs. They used to sell them for 25 cents a piece on Sundays, soft drinks the same price. You could see families from all over the area showing up to feed the kids a cheap meal. There was no limit how many you could buy; I watched a couple of big ol' country boys down more than I could count on one hot afternoon.

[stu]

if you ever attend PRM, DO NOT miss the BBQ trailer they have out on the apron. I think the name of the local company that runs it is called The Rib Shack (?)....but the food is EXCELLENT!!!!


At Prm, get the fresh roasted corn on the cob served on the apron.

When I was on the fifth floor as a placing judge, we could smell it when we opened the windows. Between races we would take turns to go down and buy several ears.

The best!

[Marshall Bennett]

I've never come away from reading a thread so hungry !!:)

[BombsAway Bob]

I found the snapper there to be quite over priced at $25.
:blush: :blush: and judging from its' scent, perhaps not the freshest catch :eek:

[juanepstein]

and not all junk food either... :lol:

FG: Corned beef sandwich or oysters on the half shell...

LaD: Has a freakin' Fuddruckers! Enormous burgers or killer nachos... Plus, has racino buffet

DeD: Has food court with all sorts of junk food; and another racino buffet.

EvD: Food sucks... which is really sad to say for track located in heart of Cajun country :bang:

OP: Can go there without having Oaklawn Burger... or eating at one of many food venues OUTSIDE track

and for nostalgia, my late grandmother and I always went to Leonard's BBQ in Memphis prior to enjoying an evening at Southland Greyhound Park. And, she always smuggled in two white pork sandwiches dressed with coleslaw (just in case we got hungry) :jump: And, on way home we would stop by Krispy Kreme doughnuts near Graceland and get dozen assorted doughnuts. We would relive the evening's events into wee hours of the morning. Fond memories of my misguided youth...

ahhh, my misguided youth has led to my further misguided middle age... I am writing from New Orleans and will enjoy the above mentioned foods tomorrow. Already had sea scallops last night and oyster po-boy for lunch today...

yeah buddy!!!

santa anita corn beef sandwich with everything hold the horseradish.


would lay off the krispy kremes. were talking transfats up the ying-yang.:eek:

[jballscalls]

oh yeah, forgot about Prairie Meadows. If you go about a half mile east of the track you can get a really good steak at the Big Steer!

[Tom]

Saratoga - the red chowder. Always the highlight of my trips.

FL - the wings are unexpectedly good.
I used to love their roast beef sandwich until I found out that those weren't grill marks.

Batavia....the hot dogs. Nothing like a thick juicy hot dog, leaning on the rail on a hot summer night, outdoors.

[JustRalph]

In the late 80's, early 90's the pizza parlor at Pimlico was "the best ever". I can still taste it. Anyone remember?


Burnie, try alka-seltzer with a prilosec chaser........

[Nacumi]

That pizza parlor still lives at Pimlico, and it's very edible pie. In MD, though, I'm partial to the fried chicken at Laurel. Soaks up the beer like a sponge.
For hands down, best track food ever, the Fairgrounds. Gumbo, jambalaya, both dirt cheap and delicious.

[Peter Berry]

The Phar Lap Buffet at Caliente or the fried gummy shark at Flemington.

[Steve 'StatMan']

At AP my favorite value choice is Nachos Grande with Beef.

Hawthorne and formerly Sportsmans used to have great tasting Mexican food on the first floor. Haven't been down there in a long time, hope they still do. The Beef Buritos were always fantastic. And very reasonably priced.

[BillW]

How about bread pudding? Oaklawn or Keeneland, take your choice! :cool:

[W2G]

Saratoga: Hattie's Fried Chicken and Spicy Coleslaw Sandwich (new offering debuted 2008 in "Restaurant Row")

Santa Anita: Hand-carved ham on sourdough w/ mayo and extra horseradish.

Both items in the $8 range if memory serves.

[rrbauer]

No wonder anyone has time to handicap!

[strapper]

FG has always been renowned for the corned beef but not for me. I was impressed with the snack bar offerings at Oaklawn. I had a great turkey sandwich while visiting there last month. At Delta the stuffed baked potatoes and mexican chicken pitas are excellent.

Anyone remember the guy at FG who used to sell "lucky peanuts" and throw 'em to you and never miss the mark? He was a real colorful guy.

[eastie]

Fair Grounds Soup of the Day is always good. They used to show it as part of the scratches, along with a rating of how good it was.
the chili on the first floor clubhouse at Suffolk is awesome.
That funny looking red chowda at Saratoga is real good on a cold rainy wednesday.

[cosmo96]

Very salty soft pretzels at Beulah Park.

[magwell]

:blush: :blush: and judging from its' scent, perhaps not the freshest catch :eek: Must get there early when the "snappers" are fresh ........:)

[BombsAway Bob]

In the Grandstand of Saratoga, under the clubhouse restaurant, near where Harvey Pack used to do the "Preview Show", is a "BOARS HEAD" Sandwich stand. As a deli guy for +15 years, I can attest that Boars' Head are a Top-Quality Product. They have great Pastrami, Corned Beef, Real Roast Turkey, Dynamite Roast Beef, w/ Swiss, Provolone, or American Cheese; served on choice of Bread, Roll, or Sub; Crisp Dill Pickle, & Freshly cooked "Saratoga Fires", thinly sliced Potato cooked in non-trans-fat Oil. Add your own salt to them. $10 with Tax & Tip, 1/2 lb. of warm heaven between slices of Marble Rye with Swiss Cheese & mustard... Only 135 Days 'til Saratoga Sandwiches!:jump:

[infrontby1]

Roosevelt Raceway,
where it all began,
where it is today

[alhattab]

In the Grandstand of Saratoga, under the clubhouse restaurant, near where Harvey Pack used to do the "Preview Show", is a "BOARS HEAD" Sandwich stand. As a deli guy for +15 years, I can attest that Boars' Head are a Top-Quality Product. They have great Pastrami, Corned Beef, Real Roast Turkey, Dynamite Roast Beef, w/ Swiss, Provolone, or American Cheese; served on choice of Bread, Roll, or Sub; Crisp Dill Pickle, & Freshly cooked "Saratoga Fires", thinly sliced Potato cooked in non-trans-fat Oil. Add your own salt to them. $10 with Tax & Tip, 1/2 lb. of warm heaven between slices of Marble Rye with Swiss Cheese & mustard... Only 135 Days 'til Saratoga Sandwiches!:jump:

That stand is a nice feature, and the price isn't bad.

New Orleaneans (sp?) I'm sure would take issue with this, but I thought the muffaletta from Restaurant Row was fantastic (I think from One Caroline). Hopefully they'll be back.

[onefast99]

Christine Lee's at GP
The lemonade at Monmouth Park
The buffet at Woodbine, clubhouse level.
The turkey sandwich at Aqueduct(carving station)
The buffet at Pegasus at the Meadowlands
The clam chowder at Philly Park
The open turkey sandwich at Philly Park
During the Breeders Cup at Monmouth Park the food was finally edible!

[dave the horseman]

At the PHA,

Clam chowder, or in terrace dining room, Grilled Vegetable salad (have to be healthy) washed down by multiple manhattans (have to have fun :cool: )

At Carbondale, PA OTB

Homemade pierogies, delicious!!!

[startngate]

The corned beef at Keeneland and Oaklawn are fantastic. Don't know if it's still the same group, but at one time the same concessions company had both tracks. I also loved the popcorn at Oaklawn.

Smith's kitchen was always great for breakfast on the backside at Oaklawn and Ak-Sar-Ben. Obviously Ak-Sar-Ben is gone, but hopefully Smith's still lives on at Oaklawn.

I have eaten at The Big Steer by Prairie Meadows, or as it was affectionately known ... the 'Plastic Cow' due to the huge statue in the parking lot. There use to be a place nearby called the 'Sugar Shack" ... maybe that's the place Donnie mentioned?

[Zaf]

The sandwiches at the Carolina BBQ are yummy at Saratoga :)

Z

[Bruddah]

The corned beef at Keeneland and Oaklawn are fantastic. Don't know if it's still the same group, but at one time the same concessions company had both tracks. I also loved the popcorn at Oaklawn.

Smith's kitchen was always great for breakfast on the backside at Oaklawn and Ak-Sar-Ben. Obviously Ak-Sar-Ben is gone, but hopefully Smith's still lives on at Oaklawn.

I have eaten at The Big Steer by Prairie Meadows, or as it was affectionately known ... the 'Plastic Cow' due to the huge statue in the parking lot. There use to be a place nearby called the 'Sugar Shack" ... maybe that's the place Donnie mentioned?

You're absolutely correct about the company that "did" have the deli franchise at Oaklawn. Those Nebraska corn beef and roast beef sandwwiches were piled 4" thick on the freshest rye or pumpernickel bread. However, they lost the franchise several years back. While the sandwiches are still delicious, the meat is not as lean, nor is it stacked as high. It used to be the best you could eat anywhere (honestly) Now it's just good, not as fabulous as before. I'm no food critic, but many other Oaklawn fans feel the same way.

The food venues are all extremely good at Oaklawn and priced very reasonably for the average fan. However, the reserved seating restaraunts are a little pricey. They are all filled to the brim. The Oalawn meet is a race meet with lots of people attending, especially on the weekends and special race days.

Wished I could be there this year. I have hopes of making the Arkansas Derby this year. I have only missed two in 43 years.

[ldiatone]

the "hot dog soup" at PEN

[Grits]

the "hot dog soup" at PEN

Gross.............. LOL

The question was also asked, "which snacks do you sneak in, etc., etc."

Sometimes I might carry a couple of small bottles of Crown in my handbag when headed to the track. This is particularly true at Saratoga when there for weeks at the time. Expensive place that it is.

$3.25 for a bottle of Aquafina water is obscene, no?

[jhilden]

For best junk food, I bring a 1lb bag of salted roasted in the shell peanuts; other then that, I do get a Nathans hot dog when at the Big A. When I go to Turf Clubs in Philly, I sit in the dining room –the food is decent; I recommend the burgers.

[BombsAway Bob]

Gross.............. LOL
The question was also asked, "which snacks do you sneak in, etc., etc."
Sometimes I might carry a couple of small bottles of Crown in my handbag when headed to the track. This is particularly true at Saratoga when there for weeks at the time. Expensive place that it is.
$3.25 for a bottle of Aquafina water is obscene, no?
..nah, what's Obscene is that
Aquafina is bottled from Tap water in Ayer,MA that's Filtered.
& Ayer is NO Poland Springs...
Ayer is the site of CAINS PICKLE FACTORY, however!

[miesque]

100% agree that $3.25 for a bottle of Aquafina is obscene, especially if you are attempting to stay hydrated as you are sweating profusely due to the heat which is the number one thing I remember from my one visit to Saratoga Travers Week in 2007.

[BillW]

100% agree that $3.25 for a bottle of Aquafina is obscene, especially if you are attempting to stay hydrated as you are sweating profusely due to the heat which is the number one thing I remember from my one visit to Saratoga Travers Week in 2007.

Keeneland has water fountains. BYOB in the morning and save a few $$$ for the last race :) .

[Grits]

Economic times are tough. This year the Aquafina will probably be $3.50-$3.75. Ontrack handle may be down. Slots fell thru and revenue's gotta come from somewhere.

Why am I not surprised about the water Bob?

Bottled water is nothing more than a convenience. Cheaper the better. Really.

One thing, I'll not eat. Sbarro's pizza at Belmont. I'll go hungry first. That's the worst stuff I've ever tried to eat. A friend once got terribly sick after a slice of it one afternoon while we were at the track. Bad, bad stuff.

[alhattab]

Keeneland has water fountains. BYOB in the morning and save a few $$$ for the last race :) .

So does Saratoga. Even better though fill up at the fountain over in Saratoga State Park and throw in your cooler (plastic only please!) along with other beverages of choice. When I go there for extended period, I'll buy a jug or 2 of store-brand water then fill up at the fountain.

[BombsAway Bob]

Economic times are tough. This year the Aquafina will probably be $3.50-$3.75. Ontrack handle may be down. Slots fell thru and revenue's gotta come from somewhere.
Why am I not surprised about the water Bob?
Bottled water is nothing more than a convenience. Cheaper the better. Really.
One thing, I'll not eat. Sbarro's pizza at Belmont. I'll go hungry first. That's the worst stuff I've ever tried to eat. A friend once got terribly sick after a slice of it one afternoon while we were at the track. Bad, bad stuff.
Karen & I are guilty of being addicted..to POLAND SPRINGS Water. We buy cases, stocking up when they go on sale @ $3.99/24pk..The Stuff is GREAT.
After +20 years of picnicing & partying @The Spa, our RaceDay cooler is now packed with: 12 H2O's, 6 SilverBullets(for me), 2 LimeSeltzers,& a Diet Moxie. 4 of the bottles of water are frozen solid the night before, & go in each corner of the cooler. This cuts in half the amount of ice you'll need for your cooler to last a 7-hour day at the races.
Our Snacks are usually non-perishable. We'll splurge for a Boars Head Pastrami w/swiss on Marble Rye, or Carolina BBQ Sausage & Pepper Sub, rather then pack sandwiches.
My current alcohol rule: No BEERS until I cash a ticket, or the First P4 will-pay is shown on the tote, whichever comes first! (Hey, there's a 10-11 racecard Labor Day Weekend, & I've got to save room for a few more Bullets at Saratoga OTB & Slots later in the evening!) :D

[oddsmaven]

Three of us used to bet the steeplechase races at Saratoga as follows, since we knew next to nothing about them:

Whoever's horse finished the farthest back had to drink a full cup of spring water from the Big Red Spring :( .

[SMOO]

I always try to eat a good lunch before going, also gives you time to go over the form.

[onefast99]

100% agree that $3.25 for a bottle of Aquafina is obscene, especially if you are attempting to stay hydrated as you are sweating profusely due to the heat which is the number one thing I remember from my one visit to Saratoga Travers Week in 2007.
Watch for smaller bottles this year!

[JWBurnie]

How is the cheese-steak at Philly Park?