Saturday June 7, 2014 is the Belmont Stakes horse race. Fifty two years ago I was in New York and thinking about going to the race. Why was I there you ask? I was in the Army and on my way to Fort Dix, NJ to be deployed to Germany for a couple of years. I had boarded a plane in Sacramento, CA flown to New York. At the airport I got a cab to take me to a Hotel. I was in uniform (class A) the cabbie was very talkative . He turned the meter off and drove me around Central Park and even stopped by his house. Then took me to a Hotel which was not far from the race track. The next day I debated with myself about going to see the race. I had been stationed at Fort Ord in CA where I had became acquainted with a fellow from New York who was into horse racing. He name was Harry Leo. I had a car so along with Harry and a couple of other guys we would go to the Bay Meadows horse track. This track was located close to San Francisco. After a day at he track (Saturday) we would go to SF and Harry would take us to places in China Town to eat. Harry had a expensive camera he would pawn to have extra money for the track, he was always able to get his camera out of pawn. I must say I had more winning days than losing days at the track. I would really get into the races. On base a kid came around selling newspapers. I would buy a paper and go right to the racing section. I kept a file on the horses so that when we went to the track I knew what was going on. It was a real thrill to see and hear the horses coming out of the last turn heading into the stretch and too have a bet on one of the horses heading to the finish line. The most I ever won was about two or three hundred. That was quite a good amount back then on a PFC pay. We had some good times. Drank a little but stayed out of trouble. Back to New York. On Saturday race day I couldn't make up my mind to go or not. It wound up I didn't go, I think I watched it on T in the room. The winner was Jaipur withe Bill Shoemaker up. (I looked that up on yahoo)
Got a taxi to Fort Dix the next day. Reported in as required and spent a week or so getting ready to board a troop ship for Germany. Perhaps another story.
Take care.
Pappy 1
3 comments:
I like that story, Dad. I always loved going to the racetrack at the fairgrounds with you!
Love your story and that Sandy have memories from you both going :-)
I have only been once to a racetrack. It was real fun and I won on almost every horse I bet on, although not much money.
I do coop lots of horses but they are trotters. I don't get any money from that but I don't have to pay anything either more than my share when I joined. Fun though to have some horses and bet on them when they are on the track :-)
Have a good weekend.
Hugs Mia
I love picturing you having beers with a couple buddies at the track. I had no idea you kept a file on the horses - guess that's another thing you & Sandy have in common :)
I also love the story about your taxi ride around New York!
More stories, Dad!
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