Emerald Downs - the Post I forgot to post in September

9/14/2010 - We were given tickets to the horse races this last weekend. We have never been to a horse race so we thought it would be fun. I was concerned about not having a hat to wear but wasn't going to let that ruin our outing. (As a side note they actually sell big floppy hats there!!! Isn't that funny!) So we are off to the races (hahaha) - using our new phone technology GPS it is only about 15 miles from our house. It is actually a pretty nice race track. We thought we would take a little cash and see what the betting was all about just to really experience it. Nothing crazy. IT WAS SO FUN! First of all we didn't know what we were doing. So we talked to one of the betting takers - I'm sure they have a more official name than that but I didn't ask - and get the 411 on what to do. Apparently you need the race schedule that tells you what horse is racing in what race, with what jockey, their number and their stats. $2.50 we have our schedule and then they have a little racing guide that tells you all about racing and the bets you can make. So the first race we watch the horses walk to the gate and put our bets on four different horses to win and none of them did. That's ok because there are ten races. So the next bet we bet three different horses for a show bet which means we win if our horse gets first, second or third. None of them did. :) We sat the next one out to get our bearings and review all of our betting options. The most expensive bet was like $3 - we could do this all day! I picked a horse to practice after listening to the announcers talk about them and watching them parade by (there is a science to this!) I liked Sis's Sis Kelly liked Night Raider - my horse won, his lost. Next race I put money on Mizzen You for the win, she was beautiful, silver and spunky! and Kelly bet on Have'n a Wild Time. And they're off! Down the straightway and around the first bend Ghost Tree, Clarinet and Mizzen You. Here comes Private Fortune! They're making their way around the second bend. Mizzen You is making her way to the front! It's neck and neck with Ghost Tree! Oh boy what a race! It's going to be a close one ladies and gentlemen! Mizzen You is pulling ahead...Ghost Tree is not giving up! What a race. . . and it's MIZZIN YOU by a nose!!!! I am jumping up and down waving my arms and cheering like I've just won a million dollars (turns out it was $13.50). SO exciting! You will notice I didn't mention Kelly's horse. . . she was still making her way down the straightaway. . . and did not cross the finish line. She seemed to be ok but for some reason just didn't have it in her. she seemed stubborn anyway. We head over to the winners circle to celebrate with our girl! It was so fun. Kelly at that point decides he is really good at picking the losers so for the next bet he picked his first choice and then we picked a completely different horse to win. We did a show bet again on three horses and two of them placed. We decided we were way ahead so it was time to head home. We treated ourselves to some ice cream and called it a day!