I will actually also be making a trip to Finger Lakes tomorrow to go and watch some races. I have some babies that I worked with racing, so that will be a lot of fun. I highly encourage anyone that has not gone to the track to go. I think there are a lot of misconceptions, although the mood in the air most certainly changes an hour before a horse goes in a race, I think you'll find that the backside of a track is really a laid back and comfortable place to be, and that the horses are really treated well. There is never a horse without hay in front of it, and it's few and far between that you find the nasty horse with the cone in front of it's stall that will undoubtedly rip your head of for blinking wrong at it, most are always blanketed accordingly, water buckets full, aisles raked neatly and wraps done up properly. Most are personable and also enjoy a good scratch as you walk by. Tracks always had a bad rep, at least around where I grew up and now the more I see, the more I wonder how and why that ever came about.
Anyway, if you're ever looking for something to do on your day off, to to the track! It's an experience for sure, and you might get hooked. OR you just might get to see your next big show horse lose it's last race (that's my plans!!!)
Buy American. Buy an OTTB.