The Meadowlands
Quote from Lonnie on December 3, 2024, 3:04 PMI went with a few friends to the Meadowlands this past Saturday for the Fall Final Four and the four FanDuel FFA races.
<START of RANT>
First observation: If you don't know where you're going, you will NEVER find the entrance to the racetrack. Luckily for us, we have been going there since opening day back in September 1976. Despite them moving the grandstand from one side of the track to the other a few years ago, we still know our way around the maze of roads. Yes, I had to ask at one point, "Left or right?".
Second, the place is HOPPING!! Every other track we have been too in the last few years looks like a morgue in comparison. Now now! No jokes about that's where the horses I bet go to race! No! Maybe 😉
Third: Spend a few dollars and turn the lights on on the track. It was so dark out there, that watching the races was well near impossible. And while you're at it:
Fix the sound system. This isn't Charlie Brown's parents commenting on the races or presentations. Sheesh.
And get a whole new Jumbotron for the infield. This time, make it JUMBO so you can actually read it! Seeing it wasn't much better either...
And, fix the d@mn draft that seemed to only be blowing only on us in the grandstand. Plus, it let in all the smoke from the smokers who were outside smoking.
Would it also be too much to ask if they could print the program in a slightly larger font? Would it kill them? Perhaps it would be a tree or two, but hey. You only have live racing two nights a week. C'mon make people WANT to come to the races and give them a level playing field to handicap.
Is this all too much to ask?
Oh yeah... the service at the concession stands. Could you hire people that were maybe born in this century?
Wait!! I'm not done yet. You have a beautiful one-mile oval. Should be exciting racing right? NOT with the first turn so close from the start. I've gone completely gaga now over 7/8ths of a mile ovals. It's a fair start, and then the stretch is still plenty long. Of course, when you built the new grandstand you could have factored all of that in. But, alas. Big Miss in my opinion.
</END of RANT>
I went with a few friends to the Meadowlands this past Saturday for the Fall Final Four and the four FanDuel FFA races.
<START of RANT>
First observation: If you don't know where you're going, you will NEVER find the entrance to the racetrack. Luckily for us, we have been going there since opening day back in September 1976. Despite them moving the grandstand from one side of the track to the other a few years ago, we still know our way around the maze of roads. Yes, I had to ask at one point, "Left or right?".
Second, the place is HOPPING!! Every other track we have been too in the last few years looks like a morgue in comparison. Now now! No jokes about that's where the horses I bet go to race! No! Maybe 😉
Third: Spend a few dollars and turn the lights on on the track. It was so dark out there, that watching the races was well near impossible. And while you're at it:
Fix the sound system. This isn't Charlie Brown's parents commenting on the races or presentations. Sheesh.
And get a whole new Jumbotron for the infield. This time, make it JUMBO so you can actually read it! Seeing it wasn't much better either...
And, fix the d@mn draft that seemed to only be blowing only on us in the grandstand. Plus, it let in all the smoke from the smokers who were outside smoking.
Would it also be too much to ask if they could print the program in a slightly larger font? Would it kill them? Perhaps it would be a tree or two, but hey. You only have live racing two nights a week. C'mon make people WANT to come to the races and give them a level playing field to handicap.
Is this all too much to ask?
Oh yeah... the service at the concession stands. Could you hire people that were maybe born in this century?
Wait!! I'm not done yet. You have a beautiful one-mile oval. Should be exciting racing right? NOT with the first turn so close from the start. I've gone completely gaga now over 7/8ths of a mile ovals. It's a fair start, and then the stretch is still plenty long. Of course, when you built the new grandstand you could have factored all of that in. But, alas. Big Miss in my opinion.
</END of RANT>
Quote from MaywoodAl on December 4, 2024, 12:15 AMI am probably going to cancel, just as I cancelled my Breeders Crown trip. Have a flight booked to Philly. I want to hit Freehold before it closed. Thought I could also visit Yonkers and The Meadowlands.
Probably should forget about Freehold and visit Meadowlands and Yonkers early next year. If I go to The Meadowlands, hopefully I find the entrance.
When I went to Penn National I ended up walking through a restricted area ( needed racing license) since I could not figure out how to get to the track. Luckily no one stopped me.
I am probably going to cancel, just as I cancelled my Breeders Crown trip. Have a flight booked to Philly. I want to hit Freehold before it closed. Thought I could also visit Yonkers and The Meadowlands.
Probably should forget about Freehold and visit Meadowlands and Yonkers early next year. If I go to The Meadowlands, hopefully I find the entrance.
When I went to Penn National I ended up walking through a restricted area ( needed racing license) since I could not figure out how to get to the track. Luckily no one stopped me.
Quote from Lonnie on December 4, 2024, 11:15 AMQuote from MaywoodAl on December 4, 2024, 12:15 AMI am probably going to cancel, just as I cancelled my Breeders Crown trip. Have a flight booked to Philly. I want to hit Freehold before it closed. Thought I could also visit Yonkers and The Meadowlands.
Probably should forget about Freehold and visit Meadowlands and Yonkers early next year. If I go to The Meadowlands, hopefully I find the entrance.
When I went to Penn National I ended up walking through a restricted area ( needed racing license) since I could not figure out how to get to the track. Luckily no one stopped me.
Please don't make a special trip to Yonkers Raceway (unless you have a horse entered). You will be sorely disappointed. I'd rather go to a garbage dump. Watching flies circle refuse is more exciting than the races there too.
And, if you don't heed that advice, and want to go INTO the grandstand at Yonkers, finding the entrance to The Meadowlands Racetrack was a piece of cake in comparison. You must find an unmarked elevator in the casino to take you up there. I asked a few employees for guidance. One had no idea what I was asking. One led us into the general vicinity. Finally, the third person escorted us to the elevator. Honestly, we never would have found it without her.
Lastly, if you do go to Yonkers Raceway, print out the program beforehand. We never saw them for sale at the track.
P.S. Ain't security great? I'd love to be an employee at Penn National. WOW!!
Quote from MaywoodAl on December 4, 2024, 12:15 AMI am probably going to cancel, just as I cancelled my Breeders Crown trip. Have a flight booked to Philly. I want to hit Freehold before it closed. Thought I could also visit Yonkers and The Meadowlands.
Probably should forget about Freehold and visit Meadowlands and Yonkers early next year. If I go to The Meadowlands, hopefully I find the entrance.
When I went to Penn National I ended up walking through a restricted area ( needed racing license) since I could not figure out how to get to the track. Luckily no one stopped me.
Please don't make a special trip to Yonkers Raceway (unless you have a horse entered). You will be sorely disappointed. I'd rather go to a garbage dump. Watching flies circle refuse is more exciting than the races there too.
And, if you don't heed that advice, and want to go INTO the grandstand at Yonkers, finding the entrance to The Meadowlands Racetrack was a piece of cake in comparison. You must find an unmarked elevator in the casino to take you up there. I asked a few employees for guidance. One had no idea what I was asking. One led us into the general vicinity. Finally, the third person escorted us to the elevator. Honestly, we never would have found it without her.
Lastly, if you do go to Yonkers Raceway, print out the program beforehand. We never saw them for sale at the track.
P.S. Ain't security great? I'd love to be an employee at Penn National. WOW!!