How many now defunct horse racing tracks did you attend?

[Scanman]

Originally Posted by Inner Dirt

Seeing these huge lists makes me envious of all the places some of you have been. I have only been to 10 tracks in all 40 years of betting, as a disclaimer I am somewhat claustrophobic and not comfortable packed like a sardine in an airplane. Also being now a self employed army of one I cannot take long vacations, I am willing to drive all day to get some where. Living in Central Virginia now looking forward to visiting New Jersey, New York and West Virginia tracks soon

Lots of great racing within a couple of hours drive of your location. Do you enjoy steeplechasing? Here's the Spring schedule:
Foxfield Spring, April 25 Charlottesville (Non-Wagering)
Virginia Gold Cup, May 2 The Plains (Pari-Mutual)

Here's the Fall schedule:
Foxfield Fall, September 27 Charlottesville (Non-Wagering)
Virginia Fall, October 10 Middleburg (Non-Wagering)
International Gold Cup, October 24 The Plains (Wagering)
Montpelier, November 7 Montpelier Station (Non-Wagering)

Admission can be a little high, but because most, if not all, are fundraisers and I think some portion of the admission is a tax write-off (if you itemize).

I've been to all of them and they are all a great day out. However, if you need the betting action (small pools), I couldn't recommend The Plains high enough. The jumps course is the best layout in the US and starting last year, they've added a number of VA state-bred flat races.

[Valuist]

Originally Posted by Scanman

Yeah, the current count is 340. It'll probably be a few years till I make it back to Europe or Australia. They are the areas that still have a lot of racecourses that I haven't visited. Only have 20 or so left in the US/Canada, so I plan to go to the following this year:
Brown County Fair (SD)
Miles City (MT)
Hazel Park (MI)
Chippewa Downs (ND)
Belterra Park (OH)
Van Wert County Fair (OH)
Camarero (PR)
Ellis Thomas Downs (BVI)

I've never known anyone who's been to Camarero in Puerto Rico. I know Jamaica also has a track near Kingston. Don't know anyone who's been there, either.

[Scanman]

Originally Posted by Valuist

I've never known anyone who's been to Camarero in Puerto Rico. I know Jamaica also has a track near Kingston. Don't know anyone who's been there, either.

With family not in town for Christmas this year, I figured we would give Camarero a try (I believe they run on Christmas Day). But if not on Christmas Day, one of the days preceding. Then, we would try for one of the Boxing Day meets somewhere in the Caribbean, probably on one of the Virgin Islands. Most likely BVI, but it could be the track on St. Thomas or St. Croix. Logistically, putting this trip together could be quite a challenge.

[Inner Dirt]

I would say Agri-Park Downs looks to be a no frills operation, can you even get a beer and a hot dog there? That jockey in the winner's circle looks rather large to make the common weight of 122 or less.

[Aner]

No one has mentioned Tanforan, a track south of San Francisco that burned down in 1964.

One day I was there with my buddy Don (at that time a new acquaintance) and he asked a person in our group to buy him a ticket on Vegas Bandit. In those days there were long lines at the selling windows (shorter lines at the cashing windows) so we took turns standing in line with bets from the whole group. This friend brought back a ticket on a different horse that also has Vegas in his name. When Don decided not to mention the mistake, I called him magnanimous. When Don stiffened up, I asked why. He said he thought it was a negative term. We often joked about it later on. Don passed away in 1990 during the running of the Kentucky Derby while I was at Golden Gate Fields making Don's last bet -a win ticket on the undefeated Mr. Frisky. Mr. Frisky lost too.

[affirmedny]

TB- hollywood, green mountain, beulah, rockingham, scarborough, garden state(old & new), atlantic city

Harness- garden state, brandywine, liberty bell, foxboro, hinsdale, sportsmans, lebanon, lewiston, roosevelt, blue bonnets

[johnhannibalsmith]

Scanman and Track Collecter still the only two people to have been to Yavapai and they've seen racing on Jupiter.

[PhantomOnTour]

Jefferson Downs in Kenner, La
the old Evangeline Downs in Carencro, La


I have been to Camarero in San Juan when it was known as El Comandante...even visited Flambouyant Downs in St. Croix, USVI

[codysakic]

Bandera Downs and G Rollie White Downs. The latter was a track in the middle of nowhere in Brady Texas. I went there as a kid with my grandfather and great uncle in 1989 when the track opened.

Probably the only on this forum that has even heard of that track.

[Scanman]

Originally Posted by johnhannibalsmith

Scanman and Track Collecter still the only two people to have been to Yavapai and they've seen racing on Jupiter.

Too funny!!!

I'll tell you, transiting to some of these remote tracks seems what it might be like to drive on Jupiter.

Shame about Yavapai. Hope they can get it going again. Such a nice little track.

[elhelmete]

Are Hazel Park and Thistledown really closed?

I thought HP ran a TB meet last year?

[PhantomOnTour]

Originally Posted by PhantomOnTour

Jefferson Downs in Kenner, La
the old Evangeline Downs in Carencro, La


I have been to Camarero in San Juan when it was known as El Comandante...even visited Flambouyant Downs in St. Croix, USVI

Make that Flambouyant Park, not Downs...and it's now known as Doc James Park

[Scanman]

Originally Posted by PhantomOnTour

I have been to Camarero in San Juan when it was known as El Comandante...even visited Flambouyant Downs in St. Croix, USVI

Phantom - If/ (hopefully) when I make that trip I'll probably PM you for your advice.

[PaceAdvantage]

Originally Posted by elhelmete

Are Hazel Park and Thistledown really closed?

I thought HP ran a TB meet last year?

Thistle opens on 4/27 (yeah, opening on a Monday...what? lol)...definitely not closed

Hazel is still running too, at least they were last year...

[five-eighths]

Originally Posted by elhelmete

Are Hazel Park and Thistledown really closed?

I thought HP ran a TB meet last year?

Hazel Park is definitely open, in fact they extended the meet last year since Northville was unable to convert their track in time. Looking forward to Opening Day on May 1st.