Presque Isle Downs brings me closer to 50!
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Photo:
Brian Zipse
The quest continues. Those of you who know me best, understand that one of my favorite things is visiting a thoroughbred racetrack which I have never been to before. In fact, it has become a goal of mine to see as many as possible before I leave this world. It had been a little too long since I added any new ones to the list, but I am pleased to announce that today, I added a new one to the master list, and tomorrow, I will add another. Today, it was Presque Isle Downs, and the little track in Northwestern Pennsylvania did not disappoint.
In this new age of racinos, it has become the norm to find a casino within many of the racetracks I'm visiting. Presque Isle has a sizable casino, and unlike many tracks, it includes tables like craps, roulette, poker, and blackjack. I am not a big casino guy, but I'm much more likely to enjoy one of the tables than sitting down to a slot machine. While the casino is honestly a big part of the place, the track still managed to win me over. A charming apron affords a good view of everything, and like the paddock near the first turn, you get the feel of being right there in the action (see photos below.)
If you are looking for a grandstand to watch the races from above, there is none, but the near building-long patio above the apron is very nice, and pretty unique. If you want to have dinner at the track, the restaurant upstairs looked like they had a nice spread, and provided a great view of the small, picturesque track. Overall, I was impressed and enjoyed the combination of modern facility, but smaller town feel of Presque Isle Downs. Having a few bucks on a big longshot that got the job done, Shamrock Omega, made my first visit to Presque Isle all the more enjoyable.
Tomorrow morning, I will be heading to the Rochester area for a first ever visit to Finger Lakes. A much older track than Presque Isle, I am hoping to soak in a little history ... more on that in tomorrow's blog.
Below you can see every thoroughbred racetrack in which I have seen live racing. The count of 48 is not bad; at 45-years-old, I have visited more than my age, but 50 is a goal I have had now for several years. You'll see that I have some pretty surprising omissions, feel free to tell me which track you think I absolutely need to get to as soon as possible. As you can see, I desperately need to see some races outside of North America. Also, I am very curious as to how many of you out there can put my list to shame. Talk to me, my friends!
And coming tomorrow ... #48 Finger Lakes!
You can definitely get close to the action at Presque Isle; here are a few photos...
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