I’m not sure what it was that compelled a couple of thousand, seemingly, normal individuals to converge on the FanDuel Sportsbook and Racing complex at Fairmount Park Racetrack on a recent Horse Hooky Tuesday. But maybe it’s partially due to the explosion in legal sports betting that is sweeping the country.
In 2021, all US sportsbooks (like FanDuel) yielded $4.29 Billion in revenue on $57.2 Billion handled. Thirty-one million people bet a total of $7.61 Billion on the last Super Bowl game alone.
Or, even more mind-boggling is the fact, that of the 63,700 fans in the stadium for Kansas City’s NFL opener at the Arizona; 7,300 of those fans were engaged in contacting electronic sports books. Yes, they can track you!
Those 7,300 made 66,000 geolocation checks from three hours before the game until four hours after it ended. Basically, that is the electronic gaming activity from the 7,300 at the stadium. And you thought the guy next to you was checking for personal emails from his wife.
Fairmount’s 97th Season
Racing has taken place at Fairmount Park for 97 years and the only recent change is that of the track now being owned by FanDuel Sportsbook, which makes betting on nearly every other sport, possible in an adjoining parlor or you can bet online.
Located 10 miles east of St. Louis, between Fairmont City and Collinsville on US 40, access is easy just by taking Exit 10 off of Interstate 70 in Illinois and heading south on Interstate 255 to the Exit 24, which pretty much dumps you off right at the track.
Seeking an Adventure
From L to R: The TwoLane Rambler, The Grand and The Kid.
What actually motivated me, was just seeking a new adventure which to introduce my daughter (The Kid) and granddaughter (The Grand) too for their respective recent birthdays. It’s been somewhat of a tradition for my daughter and I try to share a memory-making moment on each birthday.
Last year we went to the track only to find it wasn’t a race day and ended up at a large Bingo parlor just across the road. That turned out to be great fun as the senior citizen regulars coached us along. This time we decided to include the next generation. After all what is a tradition, if not passed on?
That is how we three found ourselves involved in an activity in which I had only participated in a few times in my life and something totally new to the ladies: a horse track. This was truly the “blind leading the blind”: three people sharing a total lack of horse “sense” and zero gambling expertise.
A very full parking lot greeted us on this, one of the final three days of the 2022 racing season (which runs from April to September), but there was no parking or entry fee, so that was a good start to the day!
Getting Started
The first stop in the large facility is to purchase a $3.00 program, but for newbies, this is the only aid you will need to get started. It claims, “How to bet-it’s easy” and then details the types of exotic wagers you can make to add fun to the day. Our team of novices opted to keep it simple and bet on one horse in each race and not attempt the “exotics”, even though I see how they can spice up the day by adding some variety. Maybe next time.
“Tip” sheets are available for the hard core betters, who thrive on “insider” information, but we certainly were not ready for those yet.
Food Reasonably Priced
With program in hand, it was time to head to the food stand. Braced for major league baseball stadium prices, we were surprised to find everything on the menu priced REASONABLY! Imagine that; nothing cost over $6.00.
Then research began, heavily using the race program, which includes a history of this season’s successes of each horse, rider, and trainer to help bettors make better-informed choices. After weighing the merits of why or why not to bet on a certain horse, we left the grandstand and went to a paddock area to view the equine participants in the upcoming race to see if that would provide some insight. It did not.
Amazing Animals
The viewing didn’t help me much, because I didn’t know what I was seeing except they all looked like excellent specimens to me. In the back of my mind, lingered the advice of a sage old master of the greyhound racing tracks in Iowa had given me back in the 1990’s. “Bet on the last one that takes a “dump” before they leave the paddock and head to the starting line,” he said. I didn’t really believe him, but in the vacuum created by the lack of other advice, it was all I had to go on!
There was about 15 minutes between each race and that allowed enough time to do our “research” and get to one of the dozens of betting windows, which were located on the lower level of the grandstand. Some are automated but I wanted to get the “feel” of the moment and, actually, perform a transaction with a human being.
There we were helped by a genial senior-citizen cashier. We provided them with: the race number; the amount of our bet; the type of bet (win, place or show); and the chosen horse’s number. That all seemed easy enough.
The Intangibles in Choosing a Horse
Besides all the data and research, we had applied to our choices, I had the feeling that the girls were processing their choices differently than me. Apparently, the color of the jockey’s shirt or the horse’s colors were a factor, that I hadn’t accounted for. Thank goodness they don’t use pink.
The jockey’s name seemed important to them too, as Mr. Molina was chosen several times, because he might be distantly related to the Cardinals catcher Yadi Molina. Really?
Or the horse’s name might seem significant. For example, if you are calling on the Divine to help you win, it might be good to bet on “Burning Bush”.
But names like “Foggy Kitten”, “Bel Bimbo”, “Cheekers”, or “Bobbie too Too” should never be allowed in my book. I’ll put my money on “Marquee Cowboy”, “Arch Flyer”, or “City Warrior” any time. You know, the macho names.
The race is on!
After the starting gate is pulled by a farm tractor to the appropriate spot on the track; the excitement begins.
At that time, usually they were off and running! But not always. More than once a recalcitrant steed refused to enter the starting gate. One even deposited his rider on the track and was last seen racing along the rail; headed clockwise at full speed. Note: Races are run in a counterclockwise direction!
Races on this day ranged from six furlongs to a mile. Either distance on a 95-degree day would have made me reluctant to run, but the horses mostly handled it in stride, giving us a wide range of results from “blowouts” to photo finishes”, as the crowd noise built to a crescendo at the finish line each time.
The winning horse, jockey, trainer and owners then posed for the obligatory photograph taken in the Winner’s Circle. The pay outs on each bet were posted and off we went to see that friendly cashier, collect our winnings, and place our bet on the next race.
Friendly Competition
Since we were all equally unprepared for the activities of the day, it seemed logical to have a little friendly competition just to keep things interesting. Not only did we want to beat the odds, we wanted to beat each other.
The minimum bet on a race is $2.00, so we agreed to each start with $20 and see, who, after the day’s seven-race program, had accumulated the largest dollar amount of winnings.
Realizing that any gambling venue exists to move the money from the customer to the “house”, it seemed wise to adopt a philosophy that I thought would take me to victory, so I decided on a conservative approach.
I chose a top horse in each race and bet them to finish third, thus giving up a chance at a big pay-off to opt for a safer smaller amount each time. It made sense at the time, but unbeknownst to me, The Grand adopted a similar plan, while The Kid tended to go for a bundle each time.
Joy and Heartbreak at the End
At the end of six races, the Grand had won $12.20, I was at $11.20 and the go-for-broker was limping along at $6.80. So, the stage was set for the fireworks that would be the final race of the day.
We each had $4.00 remaining, so we could make two choices. Deciding I needed to “make a bold move” in order to win the day, I picked the two longest-shots in the race, neither given a whiff of a chance at finishing in the money.
I took one to win and the other to finish third, hoping to hit a “home run” or at least a “single” and win the day.
My first pick, “Made to Fit”, would not let himself be “fitted” into the starting gate and was scratched; yielding a refund to betters. Meanwhile, my other choice, “Richiesonarampage”, got in front and had me yelling like I was about to win the Kentucky Derby. He held on for a narrow win and I’ll admit I was gloating just a little and having visions of how I would spend my long shot winnings of $21.
Unfortunately, I was having a senior moment, which I realized as I stepped up to the cashier’s window and remembered that I had only bet “Richie” to show rather than win. The payout turned out to be only $3.00 and my glee turned into a session of eating “humble pie”. In the end, that small amount was just enough to push my winnings to $14.20 for the day and give me bragging rights over the girls.
BTW, did I mention that each of us spent only $20 to “earn” those winnings? Collectively, that totals $60 paid to win $33.20 for a net loss of $26.80. Not a very good return on our investment, but much better than the zero return that I expect any time I gamble.
Don’t Have to Bet on Favorite Team
Not being one to give up easily, I couldn’t leave the complex without making a pass through the FanDuel betting area and dropping a $10 spot on the Cardinals to recoup a portion of my track losses. All the Birds had to do, was defeat the Padres later that night and it would put $19 in my pocket. Interestingly, St. Louis was a huge underdog, according to the experts. What did they know that I didn’t?
I should have followed my logic… that the Cards had not been hitting lately. I was pretty sure the Padres were more likely to win. But… my fav pitcher, Adam Wainright, was on the mound and even though he hadn’t been “lights out” lately, I couldn’t resist going with him. And after all, the Cards have won 58% of their games for the season. Safe bet; easy money. What could go wrong?
Bad idea, never bet out of emotion; St. Louis lost 5-0.
It’s very likely that the three of us will never “pass this way again”. But, what the heck, it was no more costly than a bad meal at a pricey restaurant and I have to admit it was well worth it, just to spend time together.
After all the track dust settled at the end of an amazing day, I decided maybe I should just leave the “ponies” alone and heed the advice that was posted on the marquee at the local Presbyterian Church over last May’s Kentucky Derby week-end, “Always bet on the man who rides the donkey!”
Everybody’s got a “tip” for those willing to listen. LOL
Love this place. Not a dive. Pure Americana