It's the Little Things You'll Remember!

Long from the days of betting on your computer / device from home, you had to make the trek to the track to bet the ponies. - Ah, the smells, sights, sounds, are worth their weight in gold. When playing a slot or video poker machine you may get a name from the same person who can be found at "Hot Link Slots" day in and day out, but seldom do you get that friendly getting to know someone like you did playing the ponies.

Horse players like to sit in the same spot, bet with the same clerk, and have their coffee from the same concessions the exact same way daily. - I've always said gamblers are creatures of habit and it's only when something changes do you hear from them. - Things I've always enjoyed were the names, what they did outside of the track and getting to know them took years. Looking back, these were some of the best years of my working life at the track. So, without further delay. Here is a snapshot of over 35 years of working in racing and some of the relationships I grew to know.

The $6 Man = I was doing the Regular Guy Show with host John Englehardt and was pestered constantly between takes by this guy who wanted a T-Shirt that was going to be a weekend giveaway. - He became such a pain in the ass and now started coming up to us begging and complaining while we were on air. This was long before anyone was doing anything fun educating patrons, giving out picks, and talking horses all the while not taking ourselves more seriously. All he had to do was come out and pay for a program and take out the coupon and go to the redemption booth to receive his T-Shirt which were always popular and pretty cool if I say so myself. - He had to pay admission on Saturday and purchase the program. All in, it was $6 bucks and he got a sweet shirt. - After an hour of his begging and bitching, I asked John to hold on one second. - " My friend, if you take off that t-shirt, I'll give you one right now." - I'm sure that sounds hard, but the filthy shirt for a new Tee was a deal he would never have gotten elsewhere. All he had to do was take it off on air, and BAM! New shirt while he tossed that one away. - After the gauntlet was thrown, he started to hesitate as we told him it would go out to hundreds of thousands watching on air. - But when the man took off his dirty shirt and tossed it away, he received a Brand-new shirt. First one out of the boxes and man was it worth watching this guy take it off on air to get a shirt. - This goes down as one of the goofiest things we ever did on air making another fan happy.

The Saint = He was in study to be a priest. Deep in faith and was a great athlete. - He only had one vice; he loved going to the races. - He was in a meeting with the bishop, and it was going long. He kept looking at his watch when the bishop asked him, " Do you have somewhere you'd rather be?"- Yes, sir. I have a friend picking me up to go to the Latonia Trotters. - He was dismissed quickly and became a part owner of a bar as he liked to drink second to gambling. With his departure from the church, he started bookmaking as he was a wiz with numbers. - They got so big he was caught and did a couple of years in jail. - Fast forward years later and he was my bookmaker taking sports bets and I would see him at the track every day. - We became friends over the years and to this day I still call him "Danny the Saint."

Linch Mob = I hate to put it out there so bold, but this guy was a Grade-One ass. He loved to argue. He would bitch about the table where he and 6 cronies sat; they wanted everything comped. - He came up with a real genius idea. They would pool their money and send up a lackey to bet and use the loyalty card. - I was in charge of Player Development and had access to seeing what bettors were doing so I could reward above and beyond the card perks for special players. - Lynch was his last name and the workers use to call his group a million names as they were rude and not good campers. - I came up with the "Linch Mob" and it stuck. The lackies did everything he said even though it was plainly printed on the card "Each card is for the player named on the front of the card only. Any misuse of the card will result in ejection, and all points will be dissolved." - Only after they ordered food all day and walked out without paying, I took it seriously. - I came up and asked the leader of the "mob" to leave, and security was going to bar him for life from the track. I informed him as they escorted him out that I used their points accrued to pay the food and beverage bill and even left a hefty tip as they ran the staff ragged.

The remaining mob were nervous without their leader and were scared they were going to jail. - I had a card made for each one and informed them on how we wanted them to use the program properly. Little by little they left for good and that was a great day! - They went 15 miles away to River Downs, and when I would see Lynch, he would cry for me to lift the lifetime ban. It was at that time I told him I was leaving Turfway and he started laughing saying how happy he was and his prayers were answered. - Be careful what you ask for. Six months later I became the Director of Marketing at River Downs, and upon walking in the doors the first faces I saw were the Linch Mob. - After saying hello to the guys, I told them I would inform mutuels and food and beverage all about them. - I never did, but the mob was forever quiet with the worry I would have them barred for life and they would have to drive a couple hours to see the live races again.

Life at the races was more fun getting to know the many wonderful people over the years. Some I still see to this day. They are older as I am as well, and we talk horses and sport we love. If you watch and wager from home, make a few trips out to the track and enjoy what drew you there in the first place. - I bet after a race or two, you'll recall what you enjoyed and fall in love all over again.