Our brave field correspondent Stephanie Weaver has returned to the racetrack- this time with some friends. Pictured above is Kristina; friend and co-founder of "Fancy Hat Day at the Races."
The more friends that find out I’ve been going to the track, the more seem to want to come. Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been receiving more calls, texts, and tweets from individuals who I rarely talk to, as they try to remind me about “That one drink we had at that one bar three years ago” and “What great friends we are even though I’ve only met you once and can I pleeeeeeasssseeee go bet on horses with you?”
Carey is all smiles at the Paddock!
This past weekend, I rounded up a small group of my pals and headed down to Parx Casino and Racetrack. They were all pretty excited about the day waiting ahead of us, and expectations were high as we cruised up I-95 listening to Bruce Springsteen (somehow, it only seemed appropriate that we do so).
As soon as we got there, we were pulled aside by a group of some older gentleman who seemed to notice the lost looks on our faces. One of the men in the group was 75-year-old Geo, who has been coming to the track regularly since 1953. He explained to me what win, place and show meant and how he never told anybody about his last name.
“The track is a nice place to come for families. Husbands and wives come with their kids,” said Geo. “It’s amazing how that happened because it wasn’t like this a few years ago. I think it has to do with the economy. A lot of people want to go on vacation, but can’t afford it. The track is a nice substitute and gives you something different to do.”
Geo’s friend “Barefoot” Bob also gave us first-timers some advice on how to bet properly. “Don’t come here and lose all of your money,” he said. “You work too hard for it. If it’s your first time, go to the paddocks and watch the horses. Walk around, inquire about the odds, and have fun.”
“It’s a great day out spent with friends,” continued Geo. “You and your girlfriends can sit outside at a table under an umbrella and get something to eat and drink and learn how to bet on horses.”
“We really need to wear fancy hats and drink mint juleps,” my friend Kristina said. I readily agreed and a “Fancy Hat Day at the Races” was shortly planned thereafter. We ventured to the paddocks where we saw the horses either resting or getting ready for their next race. Kristina saw a jockey she thought looked cute and we decided to put $3 on that horse. My other friend, Mason, decided to put $5 on the number five horse.
Mason is a better man, fore he is a bettor's man.
Kristina’s and my horse, the number three, had on pink and blue silks and was moving at a steady speed throughout the entire race. We watched them round the far corner and approach the final stretch. In the end, however, Mason’s horse took third and ours came in last.
We headed back in and took a seat at the bar. My friend Carey and I talked about to the track coming every weekend for the rest of our lives. Carey’s mom was in town the following week, and she even suggested bringing her.
As we left the track, we were already making plans to come back the following weekend. “I bet on a nervous horse,” said Carey, “And it came in dead last, but I’d totally bet on it again. The track is awesome. You get booze, sun and to hang out with people you probably wouldn’t ever hang out with.”
As Kristina told me her philosophy about betting, and couldn’t help giggling a little bit.
“If you don’t know anything about betting,” she said, “Bet on how cute the jockey is or how bright the colors look. Bet on anything neon.”
