Horse Racing

Our shop is going to cover the Opening Day of horse racing at the local track and I drew the short straw on that. I've been to a few tracks as a gambler but never as a journalist. What are things that you, who cover horse racing routinely, look for on opening day for stories?
Any insight would be appreciated.

 

We have a track here and the best stories typically are on the jockeys. These guys usually run multiple races per session and almost always have a good story.

 

Ask for the guy at the track known as Native Diver. He's the guy who will be scooping up tickets off the ground, looking for a winner someone mistakenly threw away.

 

Much depends on what classification we talkin' . . . we about the likes of Churchill, Louisiana Downs, or the real boooooshes? (generalizing, so that
we don't out . . . )

 

Begin by abandoning the idea that you pulled the short straw. Horse racing may be a niche sport, but there are terrific stories all over the track and the people tend to be more genuine than you find in more mainstream (and cliche-ridden) sports.
Jim Murray's last column was from Del Mar. Red Smith wrote elegantly on horses for decades. W.C. Heinz' "Death of a Racehorse" is an enduring gem. Google it.
These brilliant writers were drawn to the races by the characters and the culture -- from the billionaire owners to the hard-working people living hand-to-mouth on the backside. If you can't find a story at the track, you aren't looking.

 

I agree with Tim. The only bad thing about horse racing is you have to get up so early to cover it. But any track (Suffolk Downs sure qualifies as "any") has about as many great stories as it has people in it.

 

If you're tempted to bet on a horse called Air Lift, don't. It may look good as it heads down the stretch, but it will not end well. Trust me.

 

I appreciate all the insight. I would love to incorporate a weekly story from the track at my shop. Our post time is 6:55 p.m. and they race in the evening and throughout the night so no early mornings.

 

They work out in the mornings. Trainers/jockeys are probably more accessible after morning workouts.

 

One of the perks of the game is the early-mornings, especially if you have access to the top outfits. There are writers in the business who are afraid of/allergic to horses, and/or allergic to being on the scene at dawn. Their
loss. Dawn at Saratoga is one of the unvarnished joys of this life.