Day At The Track
"Horse racing is animated roulette."
-Roger Kahn
So I had planned on going in to do some paperwork today, but last night before heading out my father gets a hold of me and says,"Hey do you want to go to the track?"
This is an odd thing to say to me, so when I inquire further, he indicates that my grandmother, aunt, and uncle (his side of the family) will be there. My grandmother on my Mom's side will be there with us as well.
First, I'm close to my grandmother on my Dad's side and have to make time to see her as is, so this is more than convenient.
Second, the only other time I've been to a track was with said paternal grandmother when I was eight in Oklahoma, and her and my late grandfather used to go to the track at Hot Springs all the time. So this would be a visit where she is having fun, rather than us just catching up.
Third, it's a nice day so I figure why the hell not and I'm not driving.
So we get there and I run into my aunt and uncle first. My uncle is a certified scoundrel in that while he's done well, outside of sales he's earned money in his life gambling, boxing, and being a pool shark. He also has the distinction of being the only relative my father has shot at and had to shoot at people because of his actions. However fate graced him with hellion children, and even my good cousin has a propensity for totaling cars.
Due to him and my aunt (who is like my Mom's evil twin minus the military stuff), we have a good box at the track from her company. This is a little weird as the box belongs to a local business mogul who recently died, but she had still got it from him before he passed for Oaklawn's racing season.
So then I see my grandmother. She looks like an old Irish woman version of Two-Face because she apparently fell a couple of days ago and bruised one side of her face. She insists it was because she got into a fight with a jockey the day before at the track. I love my grandmother.
On the whole I didn't loose much money (less than 60 between winning and losing as I gamble carefully most of the time) and at one point I could have won about 300 to 500 dollars, but I would have had to risk about 3 to 5 grand, and no matter how much of a sure thing the horse was, I was not going to risk that as I've got some things I am saving for (said horse, as predicted, beat every other one handily with a totally green jockey).
I had a bit of a melancholy moment as the open field by the track was really nice for a picnic or having some people there that I think would like it and watching the horses run, but that's part of missing folks and such is life.
All in all a good day, I sit down to eat, and then head back into town for nerd stuff.
Odd Things:
For those that do not know, Oaklawn makes the best damn corned beef sandwich I've ever had. According to my father during the season they prepare 2 tons of it a day.
As I was getting said sandwich, the national anthem started, and while I'm used me and my family standing to, the whole track, people inbound to bet, servers, etc. all stopped like a flash mob and did so. It was nice moment.
Similarly, one horse collapsed after a race and everyone in the track stopped and were concerned until it got up and was okay (likely cooled down and finally tired of being sprayed with a hose). Again another unexpected but nice moment.
Funny Quote of the Day:
Uncle: "I think Bogey is in the Jockey Club."
Dad: "Oh really? Huh."
Me: "Okay, I'll bite, who is Bogey?"
Uncle: "A bookie we know in Rogers."
Me: "As I get older, I seem to discover that my family knows more criminals than I was previously aware of."
Dad: "Well, we know some dandies or two."
Uncle: "It is good to know some friends in low places."
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