Let's face it, playing the ponies has GOT to be fun, millions of people do it worldwide everyday and billions of dollars are spent betting on them. That is pretty much a given fact. But what is there about watching a bunch of horses run in an oval that is so darned exciting and addictive? Let us examine the sport and see what we can find, shall we?



There is so much excitement at the track. First of all you have the sounds of the crowd, the announcer, the starting horn, the opening of the gates, the ponies as they clip clop around the track, the sound of excitement literally permeates the air and becomes almost enthralling and engulfs you and draws you into it. You cannot help but become excited in this atmosphere. Then there are the many smells. Perfume, body odor, beer, food, money, even the aroma of horse manure adds to the excitement that is the racetrack.

Running the ponies is addictive, much like any other gambling experience but there is more to it. You have people pitting wills against the track, against the each other, against the horse and eth jockey.

There are almost as many ways to pick a winner (or loser) at the track, as there are winners and losers.

You can come away rich or you can come away broke but one thing you will not do is come away bored or needing more excitement. In recent years a slew of OTB or Off Track Betting facilities have sprung up to capitalize on the excitement for those that just simply can not make the trip to the physical track and yes they are fun. But you miss the actual sense of being there. The aroma factor is gone and that is a powerful force in the overall experience that is the track.

Just like sitting home with a can of your favorite beverage and watching the football game is not nearly as exciting as being in a seat at the stadium smelling the hot dogs and beer and the other things that go along with it. You actually NEED the experience of physically being at the track to fully appreciate the feeling.

Something about the screaming and yelling above the other people there after you have cautiously read over the names and stats of the ponies and the jockeys and mulled over the statistics and the odds and walking to the window and counting out the money and making the decision of win show or place and then watching your hopes and dreams circle the dusty track in hopes of making you a winner.

That's an over all experience that has to be experienced to be believed and it can only be fully appreciated at an actual racetrack. You won't get it on your overstuffed couch. You won't get it fully at an room and you won't get it at the local pub watching it on the big screen. You get it from actually being there and taking part. Just like all the other fun things in life.