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 numerous methods of choosing the winning horse at the track, as numerous as the 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.

There is definitely something to the yelling and the screaming along with the other folks at the track. That is after you have carefully read the stats of the horses and their jockeys, and thought for a bit before walking up to the window, to place your hard earned cash on your horse of choice for either winning, placing, or showing. Then the excitement of watching your choice dashing around the track in the hopes they will pay off big for you, and let you win big.

This is an overall type experience, that has to be seen in person to fully appreciate, all the excitement that goes on there at the track. You won’t experience it being a couch potato. Neither will you experience it at an OTB nor at the local bar viewing it on the big screen TV. You only get the full experience, by being at the track, and fully participating. Just as it is with any of life’s other joys!

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