Going to Horse Races
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Going to Horse Races
June 2007
Thinking about taking my 4 year old son to Golden Gate Fields to
watch some horse racing and I was wondering if anybody out there
had any advice. I've never been there myself and only been to one
horse race in my life, so I'm pretty clueless about the
environment and whether it's suitable for kids. I was thinking
about going on a Sat or Sun afternoon and thought it would be
neat to watch the races, have a hot dog, and do something a bit
different and I'd welcome any advice/recommendations.
Thanks
Mark
I have taken my daughter a few times, starting when she was about four. We loved
standing near the paddock area between races, watching them get the horses ready for the
next race, talking about the different horses' size, shape, color, tack, etc., and
picking our favorites. The race is pretty fast and hard for the kids to follow, but
it's over quickly, and then we'd see if our picks did well. We'd put $2 per race on our
horse to place - sure, it doesn't pay much, but you have a lot higher chance of being a
'winner', which is fun. We had the most fun when we stayed down at ground level, where
we could get to/from the paddock easily, watch the winner have his/her picture taken,
all that. We stay for four or five races and then we're done. You can bring picnics
in, I think, or get hotdogs and the like there.
Be advised - I have gotten some relatively harsh judgments from other parents about
taking my daughter to the racetrack. Partly they have animal-rights objections
(although I personally am a huge animal lover and a vegetarian I don't have a problem
with horse racing or the way the horses are treated in racing, all things considered),
and partly I think they have an impression of the track as seedy or something.
Whatever. Just be advised you may get some of this, but it's not the only point of view
out there. We've had fun.
Paddock gal
Golden Gate Fields is *great* with/for kids -- there are many different areas to watch
the races (up in the stands, down in the seats, right up next to the railings) and you
can go right over to the ''winners circle'' to see the horses being prepped for the next
race, check out the colorful jockies as they get ready, watch the live bugler in his red
livery play the starting song, etc. It's fun to pick horses even if you don't bet (tho'
we sometimes bet a dollar here and there just to make it more exciting). They have
standard snacks & drinks, and while you're not supposed to bring food in, we usually
sneak in a few sandwiches. It's also right next to the Albany Bulb, so you can hit the
beach or go for a hike before or after. Sometimes they have special race days where they
give away all kinds of stuff -- our son has quite the collection now (fleece blanket,
thermos, and a Seabiscuit piggy bank). There aren't that many people there usually, so
it's no problem for kids to !
be noisy, rambunctious, running around and wotnot.
The only sad part is -- you've missed the season! Last weekend they had Family Day on
Saturday (jumpy huts, face painting, etc.), Sunday was the last day of the season and it
was Dollar Day (dollar parking, dollar entry, dollar snacks, etc.) It's a pretty short
season -- April 25 through June 10th this year.
DEFINITELY take the kids next year!
GGF Enthusiast
I've taken my kids (ages 4 & 1) to golden gate fields a couple of times. It was pretty
fun for the 4-year-old and I was surprised by the number of stroller age kids there
were. A broad range of people seem to go - from hardcore gamblers who seem to be there A
LOT to people on dates to regular families. They prance the horses around before each
race so the kids like that. We didn't even bet most of the races, just watched. When we
did bet, my daughter loved helping pick who would win. Ususally it was the jockey in the
pink. The food is on par with an A's game, maybe a little worse. Overall it was a good
experience. And I think sundays are dollar days so it's cheap.
dd
Could be fun!
If you are someone--like my lovely partner--who is immediately and viscerally repulsed
at the presence of gambling, GGF may freak you out a bit. If, however, you like a
little different slice of life than you've been encountering in Music Together class,
give it a try.
A couple of things to note:
--Don't expect ladies in fancy hats, in fact don't expect any females or many men under
the age of 50.
--Make sure to go on a live racing day. Stay outside in the stands; the hard core folks
are mostly inside watching the monitors.
--A four your old may be more interested in the climibming of bleacher stairs than the
races...not sure what you need to do to be able to visit the horses at rest.
For older kids, the track can be a part of a larger financial literacy education! My
dad took me to the track once as a kid and would always place a dollar bet on the
Kentucky Derby for me. He is one of the most fiscally conservative, realistic people I
know and he passed that down to me along with an appreciation for the occasional dollar
bet or lotto ticket.
All that said, I haven't taken my 6 and 3 year olds yet. I'll try to do it this season
as I believe GGF's days may be limited.
I'm thinking you may get some hostile replies to this innocent query. Don't take it
personally--some folks are *really* freaked out by any form of gambling.
If any of you BPN-ers wan't a really wholesome and horsey day, try a rodeo! Yet another
cultural world that can be experienced not far from Berkeley. Google PRCA, get out your
cowboy hat and your I *heart* Bush shirt and head East for a very fun day for all ages
(note--if you have animal welfare concerns about horseracing, you probabaly won't like
the rodeo either).
Know when to hold 'em,
Katie
It has become a family tradition of ours to go to Golden Gate Fields the day after
Thanksgiving, my son has been going since he was 11 months old. It's a big day for
families and there are always tons of kids running around. We've only been once or twice
on a day that wasn't after Thanksgiving. There were barely any kids around, but
nevertheless I think it would be fine to take your son. It's very interesting and
exciting. We usually hang out outside, close to the track. Inside there is a different
vibe, with serious betters who are standing around looking at the t.v. screens at
whatever race is running at some other track.
It's also fun to go over to the area where they parade the horses before each race, and
where the winners go to get photographed and the jockey gets weighed. If I bet I'll
usually only do $2, but usually we'll just pick a horse and cheer him/her on.
Pony lovin' family
I took my then 7 yr old girl and 4 yr old to GGF. We had a great time and would go back. Yes, there
is the ''racing element'' but it's easy to avoid. Park up top (pay the extra couple of bucks to do
it) easy in and out. Sit in the stands. Definitely go down and participate in the ''viewing'' of the
horses and jockeys when they parade for inspection PRIOR to the races. You get to get up close. The
kids --and I--had a great time.
dana
March 2007
Looking for a horse race, or anything associated with horse
racing, that is kid friendly (ages 8-12).
barbara
It is so funny you asked about horse racing; on a total whim we just went last
Saturday with our 9 and 7 year olds to Bay Meadows in San Mateo. Neither of us have
an interest in horse racing, the kids had seen a tv ad, it looked like fun, and they
had earned a reward, so off we went. We had a lovely time!
Maybe we lucked out in the timing, I don't know. It was easy to get to, easy to
park (and only $4). The club level tickets were $6 for each adult and kids are
free. So here we have only spent $16 for a couple hours of entertainment. We sat
in little club alcoves outside (altho you can sit inside if you want), in the shade,
and plenty of room for kids to move around etc. You can go right down to the track
level and get close to the jockeys. You can go to the paddock and get close to the
horses that will be running in the next race. The races are short (2 minutes?) and
you can't see a lot, but we had each kid pick a horse before each race, we
identified the number and colors, and they had someone to cheer for. If you want to
bet it is easy and you can do it by machine if you want to. Anyway they lasted
about 5 races and then we left. It wasn't noisy or crowded and truthfully I found it
quite peaceful! Like I said maybe we went on a slow day or something. But we had a
nice time, and fun to do something different.
anon
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