A Day at the Races

With 3 blissfully work-free days looming ahead of us and no 4th of July travel plans (sad), Dan and I decided it was time to head out of Chicago to the Arlington Park Race Track. While we could have enjoyed a leisurely two hour ride on the Metra, instead we invited along one of our more mobile friends who offered to drive.

The first race was at 4pm, but we arrived around 3, assuming that would be enough time to get oriented, get a drink, place our bets, check out the horses in the paddock area and find a seat.

As it turned out, we barely made it to the rail in time to watch the horses leap from the starting gate. Despite the fact that we weren't about to strike it rich off our wagers (we'd bet $2 each), the race was still really exciting. We watched in awe as the horses pounded down the stretch, their taut muscles rippling under shiny coats. I, of course, had placed my bet on the longshot, who came in second to last. Dan's horse, the favorite, was the lucky winner.


Over the course of about 4 hours we watched several more races, spent several more dollars, and enjoyed several more drinks. Of course the one time I decided to sit out a bet, the horse I planned to bet on won (I would have won $22). Our biggest win was $18, but it was more about the excitement of the race than any anticipation of winning big that made the day so fun.

While there we did learn a few things though, so if you are planning a trip to Arlington, here are some things to consider.
- Arrive a few hours early, especially if you want to score a good seat or a table.
- Bring a cooler with some snacks and drinks. Everything there was overpriced and mediocre.
- Bring a blanket or some patio chairs.
- Place all your bets at once. You won't have to fight the crowds to bet after each race and can instead check out the horses up close in the paddock area. This will also stop any "let it ride" impulses you may have it you get on a winning streak.
- Buy your tickets online and save a few dollars each.