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I have been to the following tracks:
Thoroughbred:
Bowie - Loved old Bowie - the ultimate no frills track for the racing addict. Once made an 82 mile trip to Bowie during a day when 18 inches of snow was forecast. I slid all over the road driving down there, and heck we only received a foot of snow. The races were cancelled after the Daily Double. I bought enough programs (with free admission coupons) to get in the rest of the meet. Program salesmen said "I know what you are doing."
Pimlico - I saw Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed score in the Triple Crown here. The 1970s were a magical time for racing greats.
Laurel - I saw many DC International races here. That alone makes Laurel special to me.
Hagerstown Fair - Until 1965 this was a half mile track. Until you have seen racing at a true half mile track, you haven't really seen a bull ring! It enlarged to a massive 5/8 mile strip in 1965. I still have a handful of 1958 tote tickets that I collected there as a 4 year old child.
Timonium - Racing by the ferris wheel during the Maryland State Fair.
Charles Town - My first love and all time sentimental favorite. I spent enough time here during college to earn a Masters degree in horse racing. It could have become something really special with that casino money.
Shenandoah Downs - This was a very picturesque 5/8 mile track that shamed old Charles Town to renovate back when they were competitors down the street from each other.
Delaware Park - Loved this plant so much 40 years ago that I made numerous 200 mile round trips almost every Sunday. The paddock was truly beautiful.
Belmont Park - Have only been there 3 times. When I saw it in 1990 for the Belmont Stakes I was in awe. I stood at the rail and literally had a tear in my thinking of all the stars that raced down that stretch. The 1990 Breeders Cup tore a huge hole in my heart that day. I sat entirely too close to the spot were Go For Wand broke down.
Penn National - This track brought my childhood dream of working at the track a reality. I sadly discovered that being a racing official really wasn't for me.
Keystone - That's what Parx was called when I was there. Seemed like a factory sort of track.
Gulfstream - I thought this track was heaven on earth during my 1983 visit! Everything was just perfect for this fan used to spending his winters at Bowie.
Hialeah - Traveled here from Ft. Lauderdale to see the plant on a non racing day. Track was surely beautiful, but got hopelessly lost driving each way.
Colonial Downs - Delightful plant that sat in the middle of nowhere between Richmond and Williamsburg. It was a turf lover's paradise.
Arlington - Attended the first Million back in 1981. Totally delightful plant. It is really sad to see how low the purse structure has sunk there. Also paid visits to Sportsman and Hawthorne on non racing days thanks to my horseman friend.
Del Mar - My current favorite track. It looks like the perfect set to make a horse racing movie. Don't get me started about that Del Mar eye candy!
Harness Tracks:
Laurel/Freestate Raceway
Rosecroft
Ocean Downs
Brandywine
Freehold
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