Racetrack Diaries

Thistledowns

 

While I was on vacation in West Virginia and Ohio I managed to fit in a day to go to the races and my rent a car brought to me to Thistledowns Racetrack, right outside of Cleveland, Ohio. Thistledowns is a one mile track and looks sort of old and as I was walking around I got some food, which wasn't the best. Thistledowns is home to the Ohio Derby, which was run a few weeks before I was out here. The track has free admission and free parking as well. Today the track was flip flopping live races with River Downs, so each track was running 7 live races.

Race #1 was a maiden claiming race with a purse of on mile and 70 yards. I decide to play a $2 exacta straight 1-3. The 1a takes the turn wide and the #3 just edges out the solid #1 and I lose. Race #3 is a 5 1/2 furlong madien with a purse of $13, 200. I play a $2 eaxacta box 1-3 again. The #1 is up there, but a late closing #4 comes on and I lose again. Race #5 is a claiming $7,500 race going 6 furlongs with a purse of $6,400. I play a $1 exacta box with a 4-8. The #5 horse bumps my #8 (who broke bad after that) and no inquiry and objection are lodged. So I don't collect. The #5 paid $18.00 to win as well. Race #7 is a 8 horse field going 1 mile and 70 yards. It is a claiming race with a purse of $8,300. I play the #5 on top in a trifecta, backing him up with the #2 and the #4. The #5 gets 2nd and I lose out in my trifecta.

Race #9 is a 6 furlong with a purse of $6,400. I play the #1 here and he fades in the stretch and I lose yet again ha ha. I do get a picture with female jockey Jane Magrell after the race which was cool. I decide to play a trifecta via simulcast ovr at Santa Rosa and I collect and get back $38.40. The last race of the day for me is Race #11 and I play a $5 straight exacta 1-9 and the #7 goes off at 8-1 and I lose, but I win as I get my picture with Jennifer Schmidt after the race and that makes me a winner. See ya next time at the races.

 

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