A Fun Saturday

We had been wanting to go here for years and yesterday was the day to do it.

At the top of the stairs is free valet parking. We were heading toward the racing side, not the casino side.
It was a beautiful day, 70's breezy, sunny with some clouds.
But lookie there....that tall flag pole on the right. That is the American flag. Can you believe it? I could hardly see it. I think with all of the money flowing in and out of there.....a bigger flag would be in the budget.

My husband and I pause to record a memory.

This is a view from inside the place (looking from the paddock area).

There is the paddock area, below. I think those flowers are begonias.

The horses were in the gates. We were watching thoroughbred racing at this point.

And they are off!

When it is time for the next race, they parade the participants down the track to the paddock area.

We took up residence under an umbrella table.

They come racing down the track toward the finish line. (please note the position of the horses)

After they go by the finish line, they slow up and all you see are rear ends.

Coming from the paddock. (The paddock is where they saddle the horse and put up the jockey)

I thought the pink went well with the grey.

As they leave the paddock area and go onto the track these folks are waiting to take them on to the starting gate.

These are quarter horses that are coming out of the gate. They run straight down the track for 350 yards.

Notice how at the end of the race they are still wide across the track, unlike the thoroughbred who runs longer with turns and they kind of group up more toward the inside at the end.

After the race each jockey has to weigh in

A behind the scenes look at the picture taken in the winner's circle.

A very patriotic equine.

Two shadows wondering...."should we place a bet at the $2. window?"

We decided to DO IT. Here we are holding our tickets.
The race didn't turn out like we had hoped. lol

We certainly had more fun and spent less than when we went to that movie the other day and had to walk out because it was soooooo....disgusting. (I will stop lamenting about that some day).