Churchill Downs Friday Night Racing

[Pace Cap'n]

I'm betting they just want to keep out the riff-raff.

[WinterTriangle]

Originally Posted by Cangamble

I don't think you are in tune with the average gambler's psyche. And either is Churchill Downs.

There's been a few topics on other boards with racing and horse enthusiasts over the years, long topics. You'd be very surprised, I guess, to know just how many people follow racing, go to tracks, and *don't* gamble.

The whole "the track is for gamblers", if anything, is precisely what keeps families away and more spectators and enthusiasts for the sport, IMHO.

Live racing should be considered a wonderful spectator sport, like any other sport, a chance to get outside, see some sights, have some good concession food like Oaklawn's fantastic corned beef sandwiches with a cold beer in a plastic cup. Hot dogs for the kids, show em the horses in the paddock (I watched families do this all the time, less than I'd like to see though).

Gamblers can stay home and wager at home, or go to the OTB. Live racing is about the sights, the sounds, and yes, wagering too, but 30,000 people at Oaklawn on Saturdays aren't all gambling, I can guarantee that.

Friends of mine just got back from New Zealand, went to many races there. It's like a festival/picnic atmoshpere. Families, children, picnic tables, fish n chips, people put blankets on the ground and lawn chairs and spend the whole day.

[JustRalph]

Originally Posted by Pace Cap'n

I'm betting they just want to keep out the riff-raff.

Managing the door............

[fmolf]

Originally Posted by Pace Cap'n

I'm betting they just want to keep out the riff-raff.

riff raff is what makes the track a fun place between races!

[philcski]

Get a KEEP card. Think they were $15 this year. Free admission to all KY tracks (excluding Oaks/Derby, of course.)

[rrbauer]

Originally Posted by Pace Cap'n

I'm betting they just want to keep out the riff-raff.

I knew they didn't like me!

I sent CD an email, two days ago, when this thread started, asking them about the $10 admission policy. No response. I guess it's the riff-raff thing. On the other hand, it's Yum-Yum Derby Week and the folks at CD have bigger fish to fry. At the same time there are several tracks that would've responded had I emailed them about their admission-charge policies: Keeneland, Tampa and Del Mar all come to mind. In a way it's disappointing because the last time that I went to CD, I called a few days before and there was a packet waiting for me at "will call" with reserved seats, etc. and that left me with a positive impression about the track.

[pic6vic]

Admission charges

Check out Santa Anita. They had free Fridays. See how many more showed up on Friday than on a Weds or Thurs. I believe the last Fridat they hadover 9000. On Thurs they had 4000. Firdays averaged over 6500.

Admission does matter. They also did not charge for parking.

[Tampa Russ]

Originally Posted by fmolf

riff raff is what makes the track a fun place between races!

All I can say is that I made my first trip in many years to Pimlico last Saturday. I was happy they charged 3 bucks to get in, and a couple of bucks to park in the preferred lot.