To save time I wrote this in 2013 and I can't write it any better than I did then. I didn't see a commercial today for the West Virginia Derby but when they did the special on NBCSN with Tom Hammond in the yellow car and reliving his favorite KY Derby moments and how he got involved, it did bring a tear to my eye and I thought about my grandfather and all the memories from years gone by. RIP Grandpa and Sunday Silence.
Enjoy this classic read......
Today is always a special day for me and I get pretty emotional. One of my grandfathers owned and raced horses when I was a very young lad. He raced them at Waterford Park which was known at the time as the graveyard of horse racing. There was always bad jokes that three legged horses went there to run. Mind you back in the 70's racing there was $1,000 Claiming type racing. Most people either don't know or don't remember Waterford Park.
Waterford Park became as we know it today as Mountaineer Park. Located in Chester, West Virginia I had the luxury of going to the race track every weekend F/SA/Su and if I had time I would go when they raced during the week. I remember when they first put in simulcasting in the motel. They basically took their ball room and turned it into a huge betting parlor with big screens on the walls like you see in Vegas. That brought people down to the track that would normally wouldn't be there. Keep in mind at that time, you didn't have TVG or HRTV and you had to go to the track or OTB to see the races. There wasn't major coverage like we have today.
At one point Mountaineer was going to close down because they weren't making money. They then put on the ballot a measure that would allow video poker/slots at the track. Since almost everyone in the area either worked or benefited from the track it passed easily. That was the start of Mountaineer becoming what it is today. Bigger prize purses, bigger stakes, better horses to the track and that meant more people to the track.
I had a tear in the eye today when I saw a commercial during the earlier race coverage for Mountaineer and the West Virginia Derby which had ALWAYS been held at Charlestown. It just reminded me of how far things have come not only for Waterford Park but somewhat for myself. Even though I have been out of work for quite a long period of time, I am thankful I still have the forum as my release. I'd love to see people more active and involved as I look at all of you as my extended family.
I know this was a bit of a sentimental look back at something in my life but what good is it if I can't share it with someone.
So yes while they are charging down to the finish line I will be rooting and screaming like hell at my television and my late grandfather will be with me once again.
The irony of all of this is that I really didn't get to know my grandfather I was around 5 or 6 years old, maybe 7 when he passed away. But I remember that larger than life man that I was in awe of that he owned and raced horses. I do remember when he passed away, my grandmother knew nothing of the horse racing business and sold the entire operation. I don't know names of horses he owned or raced but I know he had a passion for them like no other. He would be proud that I took that forward even as a young lad.
Enjoy the race everyone.
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Stop sitting on the sidelines and be a part of the action!