Betting The Ponies

I have to admit that when Dick suggested horse racing for date day I was lukewarm at best. Turns out he was right, as usual. Santa Anita is beautiful, with well-tended buildings, fountains, statues of horses and jockeys, and pathways that put us within touching distance of the horses. Our only other racing experience was at least 20 years ago when we went to a different racetrack; it was dirty and boozy (lots of drunk patrons and spilled beer) and not something we wanted to repeat. This time we paid a little extra to be in the Club House area and thoroughly enjoyed it. (We'll do the Turf Club next time; they have an enforced dress code - jacket for men and pantsuit/business attire for women - and I preferred to be comfortable in today's 92 degree heat) Of course, our enjoyment got a jump start when we won on our very first bet. By accident. Having no idea how to work the betting machines, I ended up choosing three horses - at $5 each - to 'place' rather than the one I'd intended to pick. And the last one chosen came in third, giving us a $7 win.

Our area was just past the finish line, in the shade of an overhang, with a sweeping view of the local mountains. Immediately to our left was where the horses entered the track before each race, giving us a good view of the thoroughbreds and their jockeys. Races were run on both the dirt and turf tracks and one race - the one where I selected my only winner in 8 races, for a grand prize of $8 on a $5 bet - ended in a photo-finish dead heat. The starting gate changed position before every race, depending on track type and course length, and was almost in front of us a couple of times. Even when it was on the far side of the track everything was broadcast on the in-field's giant screen so we were able to see all the details - like the horse that stumbled out of the gate and immediately took a left turn rather than following his fellows down the track. Need I say that that was the horse Dick had put his money on? Would I do this again? You bet! (Hee - a little track humor.) We wagered a grand total of $40 and won $15 back. Not bad for four hours of relaxing entertainment.