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Women are pack creatures. We like to have our close group of girlfriends to enjoy Sunday brunch with, catch up on the latest gossip and keep us grounded. Any guy who’s ever tried to stomach an entire episode of Sex and the City understands this need women have for female camaraderie. See, Carrie Bradshaw and her gang had the Upper East Side of New York as their stomping ground. And yet, despite having a huge selection of posh bars, fancy restaurants and shoe stores at their disposal, the gals were missing one thing – a horse track.

As my girlfriends and I discovered over the course of the summer, the track can be an 

excellent alternative to any bar or nightclub. Why go to the same old bar and listen to a bad 80’s cover band when you can grab a bite to eat at the track and share a few drinks with your friends while betting on the ponies?

My friend Holly and I headed down to Harrah’s Chester this past Sunday. Upon arriving at the track, we bought some burgers and beer and sat down to a hardy lunch. We decided to get a table outside because it was a nice day and we wanted to watch the horses before we bet on any races. The thing about the racetrack is that you and your buddies are never bored. Even if there is a lag in conversation amongst your group, there is so much to do and see at the track that it’s impossible for anybody to even consider yawning.

Holly and I went back to the bar and got a few more drinks. We then started chatting about doomed relationships, our plans for the winter, and clothes.

You can enjoy brunch and great conversation with your friends anywhere. But you can only talk about great shoe sales while betting on horses at the track. That’s a lot more than Carrie can say about the latest night club in NYC.

Stepanie Weaver is a TrackPackPA correspondent who showed remarkable restraint in not making a "Sarah Jessica Parker looks like a horse" joke. Be sure to check out her personal blog! 

It’s early autumn, and my friend Mason and I strike out on a glorious afternoon for an old-fashioned roadtrip. We’re en route to the little burg of Grantville, smack dab in the middle of the rolling hills of Central Pennsylvania, eager to check out an historic and beautiful landmark of our newfound love of horse racing, Penn National Race Course. We’ve never visited this part of the Keystone State before, and we’re ready for whatever comes around the next bend.

We had looked online for a different kind of place to stay and found a great room at the lovely Red Umbrella Bed & Breakfast, owned and operated by a really neat lady named Anna Goss. She’s been at it here since October 2010, and has a great way of making us feel welcome. Anna’s B&B is close to the intersection of Jonestown and Firehouse Roads, which used to be the heart of the old town square of Grantville. According to Anna, during hunting season, people would hang deer hides in the square to dry in the sun. Safe to say we don’t see any sign of such activity this time.

Anna and her family also own Old Grantville General Store Antiques, which sells a cacophony of vintage household oddities, décor, jewelry, and other fun finds that can quickly fill the back seat of your car. (Gotta be really careful here; do I truly need that cameo brooch and the antique orange juicer?)

Like most B&B people (I think they’re a little bit crazy, in a very good way), Anna’s great about chatting with her guests. She’s pretty engaging. “My favorite part of running the Red Umbrella is meeting so many different kinds of people,” said Anna. “I don’t consider this work so I think I’m in the right business. I really enjoy the people contact. And this is such a beautiful part of the country.” Anna gets excited when we tell her we’re off to the races.

“I think a lot of people should go check out the old race course,” Anna tells us. “It’s a really different experience for folks, especially if you don’t know a whole lot about horses. What a great way to get to know ‘em!”

She gets Mason and I all comfy in our room and after a quick freshen-up, we head out for adventure. (Mason’s always ready before I am, but I think it’s important to keep him waiting just a wee bit.) We wanna wander around the back roads of the old town before heading over to the track. It’s pretty peaceful around these parts. We stop and look at a classic 1953 Chevy the exact color of Mason’s shirt and we have a short fantasy about hopping in and heading west to whatever comes next. But we don’t, and keep strolling, past a lazy dog sleeping on top of his dog house, as if he’s keeping an eye on things even while he’s napping.
We find a local farmer’s market, and grab some tasty snacks. There’s all sorts of great produce here and veggies and pretzels. We don’t wanna fill up too much, because we’re hoping for a big dinner after cashing in on a couple of winners.

We arrive at Penn National and the excitement builds. The track is part of the Hollywood Casino, a crazy place unlike any we’ve visited or even seen before. As soon as we walk in it’s like the back lot of a classic Hollywood movie stuido and includes large buildings, a docked ship and a forest. That’s right, a ship and a forest.

There’s also a pretty cool little Hollywood museum, and we wander past clothes worn by Elvis and Marilyn Monroe and there’s even the motorcycle that Harrison Ford rode in the Indiana Jones trilogy. Which is one of Mason’s favorites, so he pretends he’s cool Mr. Jones for a couple minutes and makes cute vroom-vroom noises with his lips. Funny guy.

Luckily, we’re hooked up with Jeffrey Cassel, the manager of the racecourse and he offers to take us on an extensive tour of the track and stables. There’s nothing cooler than getting behind the scenes. As we walk and gawk, Jeff tells us about some of the pretty cool modern features happening at historic Penn National.

“We’ve taken advantage of new handheld technology,” Jeff tells us. “We’ve gotten some of our pari-mutuel clerks out from behind the counter and into the crowd. We call ‘em Walk Abouts,” Cause they walk about the crowd carrying remote laptops on which you can make a wager. This way, you don’t even have to leave your table or your bar stool to pick your favorite horse.”

And if you wanna just sit and cool your jets, Penn National also has what Jeff calls a “simulcast theatre,” where you can watch and bet on races all over the world 24/7. After Jeff shows us around the track, he takes us out to the stables to meet some of the horses up close and personal. At any given moment, about 1,000 beautiful horses live at Penn National in 28 different barns. We walk into one, and stroll along the stable aisle and head after pretty head pops out of a line of stalls and greets us with perked ears and curious stares. Along the way, a barn cat falls in love with Mason’s sneakers and tries his best to tangle himself up in the laces during the whole time we’re there.

Everything’s warm and clean and bright, and the horses look really happy. No doubt some of them are getting ready to run for the winner’s circle. And with any luck, that’s where we’ll meet ‘em next.

We say our goodbyes and share our thanks with Jeff, and Mason and I head back to the track to watch a few races and pick a few winners. That’s where we find our favorite place at Penn Nat, the Mountain View Terrace and Dining Restaurant. Here before us is an elegant, enclosed, high-rise view of the beautiful oval racecourse, with the green, green infield glowing beneath the bright lights below. At the Mountain View there is luxury box seating that folks take for their own and design to fit their tastes, no matter how wild they might be. In my mind, I’m already decking out my luxury seats with a couple of Lay-Z-Boys and a big old bearskin rug.

We’ve had enough tourism for one day, and now it’s our happy hour. We grab a couple of excellent cocktails and contemplate our first bets. It’s been raining off and on for a good bit and the track’s a sloppy mess. The races go on, of course, and the sloppy conditions coat both the horses and jockeys in a thick film of mud.

Mason picks himself a pretty good mudder and winds up a winner. I take a little more time to peruse the program and try my best to remember some of the handicapping lessons I’ve been learning lately. Something clicks right and in the next race I make well informed decision and bring home $10 on a $2 bet. Not too shabby.

We’re having a pretty time rooting for each other, but in the last race of the night, we bet on different horses. We give each other the hairy eyeball as the horses file into the starting gate. We jockey for position near the glass and elbow each other as the horses fly down the backstretch. Our two ponies are racing neck and neck, as if they know they’re racing just for us. They storm toward the finish and we both start screaming along with the rest of the crowd.

“Go five! Go five! Go!” Mason yells. I fist-pump the air, willing my number seven horse to dig into the mud just a little bit harder.

And bang, the long shot comes out of nowhere and passes both our horses to our disappointment. We call it a night, actually a great success filled with real fun, good food, great cocktails and more goose bumps than we deserve. We mosey on back to the Red Umbrella and sack out with visions of magnificent horses racing in our heads. Next morning, we rise and shine to a home cooked breakfast prepared by our new 

friend Anna. She lays out amazing French toast, crisp country bacon and muffins stillwarm from the oven. We say our goodbyes and head down to Memorial Lake Park, a beautiful park Anna tells us we just have to see. So we find it not far away, park the car and hike a two mile trail around the lake. It’s early fall with just a hint of the color yet to come. The trees around this lake will be aflame with autumn colors in a week or two.

A crazy goose startles me and I slip into a creek while trying to make my way across a makeshift log bridge. I have a deep seated fear of geese stemming back to my childhood which is a whole other story better saved for another time, no doubt, so I make peace with my wet shoes as Mason and I head look around one last time before getting back into the car.

On the way home, we see a quaint little country ice-cream shop that boasts of tasty homemade pies. We pull off the highway and treat ourselves to a couple of slices and hand-scooped a la mode. It’s a delicious way to invest our winnings from the night before.
As we pull out of the parking lot, we notice a couple of odd looks from other drivers, which weren’t the last ones we get on the way home. Turns out Mason bought a life-sized Judy Garland statue from the Hollywood Casino gift-shop yesterday and we drive home with her sticking out of the trunk car, which is awkward, to say the least.

Wet shoes, Judy Garland in the trunk and bellies full of homemade French toast and good country pie. Oh yeah, and horses. And a whole bunch of bends and back roads yet to come before we get home. Now that’s a roadtrip.
 

Stephanie Weaver, Had-Me.com

[Pictured is the Copper Mug at Harrah's Chester, a no-sport-discriminating sports bar.]

We are in the thick of the most dramatic of sports seasons. With Red October right around the corner, the Phillies making it to the playoffs for the fifth year in a row, and football and hockey seasons starting up, many sports fans I know are stationing themselves in barstools and living-room Lay-Z-Boys to cheer on their autumnal heroes.

Unfortunately, I am not one of these people. Thanks to a youth full of embarrassing sports moments including always getting picked last for kick-ball on the playground and scoring a goal against my own soccer team, I have been permanently turned off to most team sports. Well honestly, if Jayson Werth were still with the Phillies, I’d be a more faithful fan. I have a thing for bearded men.

This autumn and winter, you may want to make it a point to discover another awesome sport that too many people in my generation have been missing out on. Best of all, you get to round up the gang and head down to the track for a great day of racing. “But why?” you ask. “Why should I leave my living room during a seven hour baseball game to go and enjoy some fresh air and interaction with real live people?” I’ll tell you why. TrackPackPA robot, BEGIN THE COUNTDOWN:

1.) You will always get fabulous seats
There’s always an open seat by the finish line, and you don’t need a ticket. Autumn is the perfect time to head down to the track with a group of your buddies, buy a round of pints, and sit outside to enjoy the cool air while betting on ponies. Along the Delaware River, outside Chester, Harrah’s stadium seating allows you to have a clear picture of the track as well as the picturesque river view just on the backside of the track. You’ll get to enjoy big, bold and beautiful horses racing each other while pulling their crazy drivers behind in teeny-tiny little carts. Neat, huh?

(SkyBox Sports Bar at Penn National)

2.) There’s the money to take home
Everybody loves winning. There’s something about it that caters to the five-year-old in all of us who more than anything just wanted to throw that ball into the bucket so that they could win a gold fish at the local fair. If you go to the track and place smart bets on the horses, you could win some money. Or just lucky bets. I mean, if I can win, anybody can. This will give you the chance to spend even more money at the bar and tip that really cute bartender you’ve been eyeing up all afternoon. (And as the song says, when one of us wins, we all win. When your horse comes in, you might wanna buy a round for your pals.)

(Chicki and Pete's at Parx)

3.) Ok, ok. You can still watch the game at the track
Don’t want to miss any of the action of your favorite Philly team while you’re at the track? Not a problem! The ractrack bars have plenty of TVs. And at Harrah’s, their sports bar features flat-screens a plenty; all the games you need to follow in beautiful high-def. And between innings – or fumbles, as the case may be – you can tear yourself away from the reality TV to the reality reality that’s going on outside. At the track, the sports bars have real sports just outside along the rail. You won’t miss a bet, or a Cliff Lee homerun.

4.) At the very least, it’s good bonding experience.
When you go to the races, not only do you have a chance to witness thundering steeds and win money, you also get to reconnect with your friends. There are plenty of outside tables that you guys can at sit at and enjoy some yummy food and brewskies. Just be sure not to Bogart that pitcher, dude.

Stephanie Weaver is a TrackPackPA field correspondent, and political leader for P.W.D.R.C.A.S (Philadelphians Who Don’t Really Care About Sports). Make sure to check out some of her past excursions to the track, they’re fun!

We had a grand ol' time racetrippin up to Pocono Downs! 

Photographer: Sean Graney (Or, just Graney if you know him). 

Ms. Mikolay is a lifelong horse racing fan. Her knowledge and love for the sport runs deep. She chats with us about handicapping, racing, and even tid-bit of fashion advice Katie is the host of "Saturday Morning Stretch" along with track announcer Ron Mullis.

If you’re heading to Presque Isle Downs, (perhaps for the upcoming Masters Weekend) make sure to tune in for picks and tips!

Upon preparing a racetrip for Parx Racetrack, we discovered something interesting... Philadelphia has an underground horse scene! Sorry, it’s not horses with mohawks and crappy garage bands- but instead it's a full on community with tons of activities for horse lovers! In fact, there's no laws against parking your horse in the city! Who said you can't have your cake and eat it too?! Now if I can just figure out how to start a horse-only garage band…

Fairmount Park (pictured below) features a plethora of horse-friendly trails and sections. Wissahickon Valley Park alone has 57 miles of lush trails to explore (not to mention the now infamous ‘Devil’s Pool’). There are several stables and boarding centers located within the general area.

Monastery Stables
Deep within Wissahickon Valley’s vast network of trails, hidden much like a reverse-mirage, one can find the historic Monastery Stables. With six serene acres of lush foilage, you’ll feel much farther than only 10 miles away from Center City. The 1747-built Monastery features 22 stalls and spacious mowed fields are perfect for relaxing and grazing (human and horse alike). For lessons or just visiting in general, calling ahead is advised.

Philadelphia Saddle Club
Calling Monastery Stables home, the Philly Saddle Club have 1,800-acres of terrain at their disposal. An experienced rider is preferred, as it’s a group-effort to care and stable the horses. Interesting fact: club members range from 32 to 90 years of age. You can never be too old to make new friends!

Chamounix Equestrian Center
From spring to fall, horseback riding lessons are available at the Chamounix Equestrian Center in beautiful West Fairmount Park. The center also hosts the Work to Ride program, which provides low-income youth an opportunity to ride, care for, and play with the horses! Some even join the polo team!

Pennypack Park
Known as the cousin to the Wissahickon, Pennypack’s expansive 1,395 acres are a welcomed refuge to the city’s outdoorsy types! By bike, blade, foot or hoof- get out there and traverse the paved and unpaved trails! Keep your eyes peeled for Fox Chase Farm, one of the only fully-functioning city farms remaining!

If riding's not your style, or if your just looking for something at a faster pace, head to to the one and only Parx Racetrack for world-class thoroughbred racing. They've got plenty of special events, entertainment and restaurants and are located just minutes away from the city! 

PS: If you still think this is a bunch of cowpies and I'm pulling your leg- check out this segment on the venerable This American Life:

This week’s racetrip is all about getting you outside to enjoy that fresh, thick, smoggy summer air! If you’re like us, your breaks from work behind the computer consist of looking at the TV. Let’s make Michelle Obama proud and get outside to run around! Our racetrip this week brings us to Harrah’s Chester Racetrack and Casino, located just west of Philly. But, we’re going the complete opposite of the city! It’s time to hike, swim, and farm, baby!

Tyler Aborteum

This is a well-rounded nature stop. Beginner hikers (heck, even walkers) have choice of seven different trails ranging from .9 miles to 8.5 miles. The Butterfly House opened up at the beginning of this month, boasting 1400-square-ft of monarchs, sulphurs, hairstreaks, and tons of other butterflies with terrifying names. Photographers: bring extra batteries and gigs- there’s a lot to shoot here. 

Northbrook Canoe Co.

Tube, swim or paddle your way through the heart of Chester County with Northbrook Canoe Company. Scenic rides down the Brandywine River range in length and price, starting at 9am and ending at 4pm. So pack some sun-screen and beer cozies because it’s time to unwind! 

Linvilla Orchards

Taste fruit like you’ve never tasted before at Linvilla! They do all the planting and growing, and you reap the benefits! Pick the ripest of ripe and live off the fat of the land! They have 45 varieties of peaches alone! Pick-up-and-go fishing at Orchard Lake offers an accessible experience to all skill levels. No fishing license required! 

The Longfellow House 

After a long day in the sun, a friendly bed is just what you'll need. This B&B is located in the lovely downtown section of Swarthmore and offers off-street parking, a delectable continental breakfast, and a warm, friendly hostess. 

Nothing quite like ending your day track-side with a nice cold one! Check back in with us for more events, specials, and horse racing at Harrah's Chester! 

Several weeks ago, we trekked nearly the entire western border of the state- starting at Presque Isle Downs in Erie and finishing at the one and only Meadows Racetrack in Washington, PA. Last week’s racetrip covered Erie, so now it's on down to the Meadows! This week we're featuring three places of indulgence that are mere minutes away from the track:

Palazzo 1837 Ristorante

 (724)-225-1837 | 1455 Washington Road, Washington PA |

Palazzo’s has a lot to offer. Located in the beautiful Quail Mansion, its classic charm will have you feeling like it’s… 1837. I guess I get that now. We were drawn here by rumors of ‘prohibition-style’ drinks. While we were expecting bathtub gin that jeopardizes one’s eyesight, what we got was much, much better. Pictured is a Vanilla & Rye: 1920’s whiskey sour (made from scratch), rye bourbon, amaretto, simply syrup, frothed egg white, a touch of vanilla, and a lemon wheel to garnish. It was unbelievable. They even provided a metal straw/spoon combination! 

The food was prepared with just as much care and attentiveness. The traditional Italian fare was fresh, vibrant and flavorful. We decided to throw some ribs into the mix- and they were spectacular.

The scenery, the knowledgeable and friendly staff, and most of all the delicious food and drinks make Palazzo 1837 a must. Did we mention it’s about 2 minutes away from The Meadows? 

Peek-A-Boo Igloo

| 501 Racetrack Rd. Meadow Lands PA |

While on our trip to The Meadows, we were all hot and tired from working hard. And then, like a mirage in the distance, someone spotted an igloo. Could it be? No, we must be hallucinating. Eskimo’s don’t even live in igloos. That’s a myth. But wait, it is! It’s the Peek-A-Boo Igloo! And they have ice-cream! And, and (shrieking incoherently)!

This little Igloo’s right up the road from The Meadows, and serves up a root beer float that will cool-off you’re melted brain. They also have go-karts on the weekend, if all the horse racing has you itching to compete.

Bistecca

 (photo via Pam Panchak/ Post-Gazette)      

Located on the Meadows’ premises, Bistecca is class defined. Huge sky-level windows providing sweeping views of the entire track, making for an unforgettable dining experience. Their extensive menu features over 150 wines to choose from, providing a variety that's sure to please the most fickle of palettes. 

Even if you're not one for fine-dining, the experience alone makes the higher prices worth it. 
 

Racetrips are a weekly feature here at TrackPackPA, so be sure to check back in for more specials, events, and great places to eat! 

Last week the TrackPackPA team took our own racetrip up to the one and only Presque Isle Downs in Erie, PA! Every time we go up there we’re taken aback by the beautiful seemingly endless scenery at the track. So, being the shunpikey-travelers we are, we decided to do a bit of exploring! Here's three great places to check out when visiting Presque Isle Downs Racetrack and Casino! 

Wooden Nickel Buffalo Farm

Located 30 minutes from PI Downs, the Wooden Nickel is a one-of-a-kind stop into a bygone era. We perused the gift shop filled with buffalo knick-knacks and alpaca furs while proprietor and master chef Buffalo Dan cooked us up some buffalo eats. The burgers were lean and zesty, the chili was hearty and flavorful, and the hot dogs were some of the best we’ve ever had! Although, is perhaps a better term would be a bison-dog? Or maybe a hot-bison?

Dan gave us the lowdown on Bison meat, which has the lowest fat and cholesterol of virtually all meats - even chicken. His family has been running the Wooden Nickel for the last 17 years, raising and selling their own livestock. After our meal, we took a walk around the property and gazed upon the majestic, and frighteningly huge beasts. On our way out we grabbed some all natural buffalo jerky that was so good we kept it on the air conditioner and ate it the next morning. Yup. That happened.

Colao’s

Colao’s is a diamond in the rough. Don’t get me wrong- Erie isn’t rough, in fact, it's found it quite endearing- but Colao’s Ristorante is truly is a diamond.

We started off with some tasty cocktails and appetizers, and eventually made our way into the delectable meals. We sampled a veal saltimbocca that was unlike anything we've had before. After we topped it off with an after-dinner limoncello, it was off to bed.

Maritime Museum

Remember when we said the Wooden Nickel was a stop into a bygone era? This place REALLY is a stop into a bygone era. We hopped onboard the Flagship Niagara and walked the deck in awe of its size and sheer merit.

The cramped hull compartments housed the likes of Oliver Perry, the victorious American leader in the Battle of Lake Erie.

The museum aspect of the tour was nonetheless entertaining, as tour guides provided informational and entertaining romps into the past. Above you can see a canon that could have easily put a cartoon-sized hole through a ship's hull. 
 

From here we hitchiked all the way down to The Meadows Racetrack in Washington, PA- But that's next week's racetrip! 

As always, check back in with us for more specials, events, and live entertainment at Presque Isle Downs!

Pocono Downs racetrack is located in the wonderfully wooded Wilkes-Barre, PA. The region is renowned for it’s many ski resorts, but, chances are if you’re a PA resident you don’t need another person telling you to go skiing. So here's three things that we know will you'll love: Riding, sleeping, and drinking! 

Deer Path Riding Stables
There are certain qualities one looks for in a riding stable: friendly owners, happy horses, and perhaps even beautiful scenery. Deer Path Riding Stables wears all three of these traits prouder than red white and blue on the American Flag (sorry, there’s some residual Fourth of July left in me). Owner John Mertz welcomes all levels experience- especially beginners. Mertz’s affable disposition is contagious, making a trip to Deer Path enjoyable whether you want it or not.

The Frederick Stegmaier Manson
Chances are a hundred years ago I’d be a Farrier’s apprentice trying not to get kicked in the head by a horse, again. I would roll my circle-stick by The Stegmaier Mansion in awe that such opulence could even be tangible. But, as it would be, it’s 2011 and the mansion has become a luxurious bed and breakfast! For nine years, owner Joseph Matteo worked tirelessly to restore it to its original glory, and he does not disappoint. It’s your right to be regal for a day!

The Lion Brewery

Awe, sweet! Located less than 10 MINUTES away from the track, The Lion Brewery is home to Lionshead, Stegmaier (sound familiar?), and Olde Philadelphia soda! Lionshead is a local favorite and is revered by any PA college student. You may have even seen Scranton’s own Dwight Schrute drinking it. Be sure to book your tour ahead of time, as they only happen on Saturdays and tend to fill up fast! 

Oh, and don't foget about Pocono Downs Racetrack and Casino! They've got plenty of live music, events and specials going on at all times! Post Time is 6:30 every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday!