From the Interstate, it does not look this big. I was stunned when I actually saw how big it was! The entire dirt track around was about 2 miles if I remember correctly. They also have a grass/turf track on the inside of the dirt track! The first race started at 6:30 (pre-race) and there were 10 races total. We left around 10:30-11 and there were still 2 more races to go!
(if my camera was a newer version I would have made these into a panoramic shot for you, but you will have to use your imagination!)
Kasi and Matt so generously explained to Kyle and I the betting logistics. What the odds meant. How to pick the horse/jockey based on the numbers in front of you. (In the past I had always just looked for the prettiest horse and the coolest name). And thanks to their winning Kentucky Derby tickets we got a table for free!
We spent an extra $1 per person to get in the nice-view very air-conditioned part of the race track. The level below us was basically free admission and $1.75 beer drinkers...the crowd gets a little rough down there I heard. We had a nice table, with a TV, right at the finish line! The TV had all the races going on country wide (equipped for real hard-core gamblers!) We found the Canterbury Downs station and watched that for a while, too!
And, we had to laugh, because even though we are in one of the worst droughts in recorded TX history, ever business still finds a way to get the water they need. There were 2 of these trucks watering the tracks after every race.
Overall I either broke even or won on every race I bet on. (Matt and Kasi weren't haveing such luck) and Kyle refused to bet (he always loses at gambling). So it was a successful night! And to continue in the spirit of the night, we went back to our house and played 2 games of Farkle!
This looks eerily similar to Canterbury Park (where I work!). Sometime when you're in Minnesota, I can set you up with a free table & some other discounts at Canterbury! :-)
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