Quote:
Originally Posted by The Arbiter
As a kid, my grandfather took me every year to see the horses run at Three County Fair in Northampton. Apparently I bore witness to the 'down years' before they shut it down, but I didn't know any better, playing the horses while at the fair was great fun. It still seemed like pretty good crowds to me, so I can only imagine what it was like in its prime. The fair itself still exists, it hosts demolition derbies, horse shows, concerts, etc. It was a quaint place to take in some racing-- good memories there.
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This is my #1 All-Time Favorite racing venue!!! Unfortunately 2005 was their last year of racing, and it would take a miracle for racing to ever return.
Not sure what year was the first time I visited. Perhaps 1997? Initially I was only able to go up for 1 weekend. Shortly thereafter I made it a top priority to be there every single racing day. For a few years they even added a 3rd weekend of racing (making a total of 10 days). Ah the racing crowds, 4-H booths with loaded baked potatoes, the $5 Italian sausages sold at the far-end of the racetrack, the evening oxen pull contests, and going thru the underground tunnel to watch the races up close from the infield. Then there was the makeshift simulcast area where one would always find some very interesting characters. And remember the under-grandstand wagering booths were one could look thru to the back walls where someone had recorded the daily wagering handles for each race day over the past 15 years or so. Finally, an old fashion chalk board on the one side of the grandstand entrance on which the day's scratches were written out. After the day's racing card the routine was to drive up to the Hinsdale NH dog track for evening T-B simulcasting, a delicious bowl of clam chowder and nachos grande, and a few live dog races if they were running.
Were you there any time the infamous Zippy Chippy raced? In one of his best races (before he got even older and slower, Zippy at Northampton almost graduated from Maiden, losing by about 3-6 inches.
