| Oh the smell of the dirt and the horses and the | | | | Hollywood Park/California - Wow, who doesn't like |
| fans and the horses! What are the top horse | | | | Hollywood! That's exactly what we thought, but |
| racing tracks and where the heck are they? We | | | | we really do enjoy this track. Opened in 1938, old |
| watch horseracing on television but do those | | | | Jack Warner of Warner Brothers Studios must |
| announcers EVER tell us where the race is? No, | | | | have liked horses and betting on them-he also |
| they usually say it once when you're in the | | | | enlisted a lot of Hollywood types to invest in |
| kitchen getting your chips and beer before the | | | | Hollywood Park. It was used as a storage facility |
| race begins. If you miss that, you're out of luck, | | | | from 1942 to 1944 because of WWII, the big |
| but here, we are proud to tell you where they | | | | one, and a fire in 1949, put it out of business until |
| are and why they're tops. We picked out four | | | | it's reopening in 1950. In 1951, Citation became the |
| here and we'll tell you why we like each one of | | | | first million-dollar horse winner here and we bet he |
| them.o Churchill Downs/Kentucky - The home of | | | | was proud! This track was the first to offer |
| the Kentucky Derby, this horse track is full of | | | | exacta wagering in 1971-something we are fond |
| wealthy ladies with big hats with Mint Juleps in one | | | | of. In 1973, another $3 million was offered up for |
| hand and Burgoo Stew in the other. Opened in | | | | renovation purposes. Where do you think all your |
| 1875, the vision of Col. M. Lewis Clark, who also | | | | bets go? The rack track itself is 1 1/8 miles and is |
| won here as a jockey, Churchill Downs has grown | | | | awesome to see. Off-site betting in Del Mar, San |
| over the years in popularity. In 1902, Matt Winn | | | | Bernardino, and Ventura came along in 1987, and |
| who bought the failing track was actually | | | | this used to be the home of the world famous |
| incorporated in 1942. Years went by until 1980 | | | | Breeders Cup! In 1994 it's further renovation of |
| when CEO and President, Thomas H. Meeker | | | | $20 million gave this park the class it needed and |
| demanded expansion-he got it. In 2005, the $121 | | | | if you don't want to bet on a horse race-there's a |
| million dollar renovations were complete including | | | | casino too and we like that!o Santa Anita |
| revamping the grandstands and clubhouse. This | | | | California - Well, they say California is sun-filled |
| racetrack is full of history, but mostly, we like the | | | | with surfer happy people who say "way wow," |
| idea of the computerized advanced | | | | and are everywhere-that's just part of the |
| deposit-wagering set up in 2007-easier for us to | | | | reason we like it here. Another reason is that this |
| bet at home since we can't afford tickets to | | | | track opens every year the day after |
| actually go there.o Belmont Park/New York - | | | | Christmas-so ask for cash this year! While you |
| Who doesn't like New York? It's the apple state, | | | | can't bring a Frisbee, fly a kite or wear your |
| oops; we mean it has a city nicknamed The Big | | | | rollerblades at this track, it will be the home of the |
| Apple. That alone is great for apple lovers, but we | | | | 2009 Breeders' Cup-a first for this track. It |
| love this track too. This 430-acre track in Elmont, | | | | covers 320 acres and a complete equine hospital |
| NY has two super seasons, one from April to July | | | | (that's a horse hospital if you didn't know). You |
| and the fall season in September and October. | | | | don't have to dress up here if you get box seats, |
| This too is home to one of our favorite races, | | | | but if you shell out $7.50 you can sit in the |
| The Belmont Stakes, part of The Triple Crown. | | | | clubhouse-but you have dress up there and if |
| The track here is 1-½ miles in length and | | | | your Grandma is 62 or older, she can get in free |
| even though they claim they can fit 90,000 | | | | on Thursdays! We liked it here because there are |
| people here, they only have 32,941 seats so | | | | friendly people who will explain to you how to bet |
| most of us who attend will be standing. You | | | | or you can read one of their information-full |
| should be exceptionally well dressed to get into | | | | brochures on how to wager! |
| Belmont Park, even if the parking is only four | | | | All of these places have great horse racing tracks |
| bucks. They will let you bring in coolers for your | | | | and if you have only watched horse races on TV, |
| beer, but only if you aren't sitting with the | | | | don't fret, now that you know what it's like to |
| wealthy people and for our betting or should we | | | | visit these tracks, maybe you can just make an |
| say losing convenience, this track has ATM's on | | | | offsite bet and stay at home with your beer and |
| the first, second, third, and fourth floors-nice!o | | | | chips. |