Thoroughbred Racing

[Passport1]

I am a horse racing fan. Spent some time at tracks in Illinois and New Jersey. Won occasionally but usually not. Still the sight and sounds of a pack of race horses at full tilt is a thrill like no other. Haven't lived near a track in decades and there are none around here. Closest is Gulfstream Park in Florida. I'd like to take my grandkids there to experience the 'Sport of Kings'.

Anybody else a racing fan and peri-mutual betting?

 

[97prizm]

I've always wanted to hit up Derby week and see the Kentucky derby. I'm not a horse fan at all, they smell, attract flies leave messes etc. The betting seems over-the-top and confusing, not straight forward. If I had a derby horse it would get a regular name, dug. Chuck, gill. The names they get are frou-frou.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Asking for a curious friend have they ever had one named Oil Change Increment?

 

[JohnnyG]

My father once told me, "If there's a human involved, the race is fixed". I have never seen anything to refute that statement.

 

[RBT]

We have horses, terrific animals, can read your mindset and energy. My personal horse is an off the track thoroughbred. Red mare, 16.2 hands, about 1300 lbs, she moves extremely well but requires a confident rider with whom she can build trust and rapport. Given how much she was abused by prior owners, her trust and confidence in my wife and me is gratifying.

Experience with horses has taught me that while I admire the great race horses, the industry is complicit in a lot of animal cruelty unfortunately. It is a shame because the sport itself is quite impressive to behold.

 

[KCJeep]

No interest in betting but horse racing is fascinating. Interesting mini series on it on Netflix recently that was largely nonsense, but still gave an insider’s look at the sport.

Never seen it in person but it is on my bucket list.

 

[tnt_motorsports]

I've never been to thoroughbred racing but have done sulky racing a handful of times. It's entertainment and like the OP never made too much money. I've taken my boys several times as well. They enjoyed it. I placed bets on their behalf to teach them how it works.

 

[Carmudgeon]

I used to know someone who was an owner. Went to a race where their horse ran, and got a look behind the scenes at the track. And surprisingly, it won!

One must be devoted to the hobby, though. Not unlike owing the money holes also known as boats.

Have also ridden horses a few times, locally and on vacation. A great way to see natural scenery, and I'd look to do it again.

Horses are majestic animals, and human history would be much different without them.

 

[Leo99]

I own fractional shares in a few horses. We have a few thoroughbreds (with the jockey) but mostly standardbreds (with the harness bike). Thoroughbreds typically race once per month while the standardbreds can race once a week. So, there is more action with the standardbreds but the thoroughbreds have bigger purses and usually cost more money.

 

[JHZR2]

We have horses, terrific animals, can read your mindset and energy. My personal horse is an off the track thoroughbred. Red mare, 16.2 hands, about 1300 lbs, she moves extremely well but requires a confident rider with whom she can build trust and rapport. Given how much she was abused by prior owners, her trust and confidence in my wife and me is gratifying.

Experience with horses has taught me that while I admire the great race horses, the industry is complicit in a lot of animal cruelty unfortunately. It is a shame because the sport itself is quite impressive to behold.

Very similar to the horse my wife used to own. Abused, so it took a lot of trust and effort to right the wrongs. Was worth it in the end.