Horse play
One of my co-workers was discussing the bets he placed before Saturday's Belmont Stakes and it captured my interest. By no means am I an avid horse racing follower (I was stunned to learn Big Brown was flown to Baltimore for the Preakness -- who knew there were planes for horses?), but I have to say out of nowhere the sport is quickly growing on me.
Move over silly little pools that include drawing names out of hat. Bring on exactas, trifectas, wheels.
At first I vowed to join my co-worker in making an OTB stop prior to next year's Triple Crown events, but then I remembered I still have major races like August's Travers Stakes and October's Breeders' Cup to work with.
Then it dawned on me that Fort Erie Race Track is a bridge crossing away. Minimal research indicated that parking and admission are free. I have not been there in years, but how can you pass up a stogy resting between the lips, an ice-cold beer in one hand and a horse racing program (which I will have to learn how to read) in the other?
Aside from Fort Erie, our region also offers harness racing at Buffalo Raceway on the Fairgrounds and later at Batavia Downs.
Count me in for a couple trips to the track this summer. Anyone else share the same sentiment, which I surmise is not necessarily common among twentysomethings?
---Geoff Nason
