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General Category => General Harness Racing Discussion => Topic started by: Dolfan on September 24, 2012, 12:21:21 PM

Title: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: Dolfan on September 24, 2012, 12:21:21 PM
Here are my thoughts on my recent trip through Ohio & Pennsylvania:

Jug:
1 - Even though it looked like I expected I was still "wowed" by it.
2 - Another day of that fairground food (deep-fried Twinkies!) & I may have had a coronary!
3 - Racing on Jugette day was far more interesting than Jug day & all those chalks.
4 - I don't know if he would have won but my opinion (while it was happening) was Mark MacDonald went too slow, particularly the 3rd 1/4.
5 - I saw my first swine auction.  Also my last!
6 - We stayed in Dublin which was very nice & visited Muirfield Village (golfers) which was awesome.
7 - Disappointed to not have met anyone other than The Giss but I thought The Giss was just super-nice & knowledgeable.  Someone I could talk with all day!

Meadows -
1 - We were there Friday night along with about 400-500 other horse players.  Pathetic attendance, even worse than Pompano.
2 - Great facility, huge casino.
3 - Met up with a friend's lovely wife & kids who I hadn't seen in many years & had a great conversation.
4 - Was sorry to have missed Samstar.

Northfield -
1 - We drove up to Cleveland Saturday night after stopping at NFL Hall of Fame (excellent IMO) & it was cold & raining.  Welcome to Cleveland.
2 - Great deli - Corky & Lenny's only 10 minutes from the track.
3 - Track was a dive - dark & dreary.  Stunned to see them charge for parking, admission & seating.  Are they serious?
4 - Chalk city - Merriman actually drives 2 hours each way to drive $2000 purses?  Really?

I welcome anyone comments.
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: dinkadoo on September 24, 2012, 01:52:20 PM
your comments are about right on what others have told me.

The Meadows  -- Great Facility, oh by the way they have harness racing also.

Northfield --- who in this day and age charges you for the right to gamble ? Along with the delayed post times, another reason to stay at home, watch on computer and collect 5% rebates.

At least you got to knock off a couple of places on the bucket list.
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: Dolfan on September 24, 2012, 01:59:15 PM
Exactly.  My bucket list is shorter today than it was a week ago.
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: AmyHollar on September 24, 2012, 02:14:37 PM
Sorry to miss you Dolfan.
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: Dolfan on September 24, 2012, 05:41:52 PM
Sorry to miss you Dolfan.

I did try.  Made the 1/4 mile trip to Windy City barn in my Dolphins' jersey & left word that I was looking for ITS posters but they didn't know where anyone was.   idunno

Amy, couldn't blame you for not being in Nfld grandstand on Saturday.  Cold, rainy, dark & dingy.  Depressing too.
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: samstar on September 24, 2012, 05:43:22 PM
Would have loved to see you. Qualified in the morning and had a ball.  My first two drives of the year.  We have actually increased our on track handle at the Meadows by allmost 50% this year.  That is the only increase in Pa.  We are hoping to double on track handle next year.  We are getting pretty good cooperation from management and horsemen alike.
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: Jeremy on September 24, 2012, 05:47:22 PM
I did try.  Made the 1/4 mile trip to Windy City barn in my Dolphins' jersey & left word that I was looking for ITS posters but they didn't know where anyone was.   idunno

Amy, couldn't blame you for not being in Nfld grandstand on Saturday.  Cold, rainy, dark & dingy.  Depressing too.

Did you go into the club house upstairs and see the guys in the booth all by themselves ?
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: beans and weenies on September 24, 2012, 05:53:11 PM
Dolfan you must be very shy.  If you walked around the track at Delaware and did not stop at the Brian Brown barn on the 3 turn and make yourself known, you really missed the real jug action.  ;) Behind the Log Cabin we were rockin' with a huge flat screen tv with the races on, for the ones who were a little too "happy" to be able to walk to the track and watch. ;) I thought it was the best race card  and crowd that we have had in the last 3 yrs.  Hope you come back again and don't be so shy.   thumbsup
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: Dolfan on September 24, 2012, 05:56:51 PM
Did you go into the club house upstairs and see the guys in the booth all by themselves ?

We wound up sitting in the "clubhouse" upstairs, in the back row, near the betting window.  Which "booth" are you referring to?


Dolfan you must be very shy.  If you walked around the track at Delaware and did not stop at the Brian Brown barn on the 3 turn and make yourself known, you really missed the real jug action.  ;) Behind the Log Cabin we were rockin' with a huge flat screen tv with the races on, for the ones who were a little too "happy" to be able to walk to the track and watch. ;) I thought it was the best race card  and crowd that we have had in the last 3 yrs.  Hope you come back again and don't be so shy.   thumbsup

No not shy.  Giss told me to go to Windy City stable - he never mentioned the Brown stable.  I wore my Fins jersey - I figured the only one & then ironically Michaels Power's groom(?) had on a Reggie Bush shirt!

Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: Jeremy on September 24, 2012, 06:17:44 PM
We wound up sitting in the "clubhouse" upstairs, in the back row, near the betting window.  Which "booth" are you referring to?



In the upstairs clubhouse, all the way at the top there is a small room enclosed in glass that about 4 or 5 guys have all to themselves
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: beans and weenies on September 24, 2012, 06:21:33 PM
We wound up sitting in the "clubhouse" upstairs, in the back row, near the betting window.  Which "booth" are you referring to?


No not shy.  Giss told me to go to Windy City stable - he never mentioned the Brown stable.  I wore my Fins jersey - I figured the only one & then ironically Michaels Power's groom(?) had on a Reggie Bush shirt!

I'm aghast "I think that's the word I want"   rflmao1 That Giss would not get you  to the right barn  hammerhead1
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: Jeremy on September 24, 2012, 06:28:32 PM
I'm aghast "I think that's the word I want"   rflmao1 That Giss would not get you  to the right barn  hammerhead1

Well he is facebook friends with Kurt Sugg, so you never know.
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: Dolfan on September 24, 2012, 06:34:26 PM
In the upstairs clubhouse, all the way at the top there is a small room enclosed in glass that about 4 or 5 guys have all to themselves

I did notice it but made no attempt to enter an area so exclusive!  idunno

And no yelling at The Giss.  Good guy as I mentioned.  lilcheerleader
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: Jeremy on September 24, 2012, 06:44:56 PM
I did notice it but made no attempt to enter an area so exclusive!  idunno

And no yelling at The Giss.  Good guy as I mentioned.  lilcheerleader

I usually sit in the area next to it.  The one owns a couple horses two of them are really annoying though
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: LVGaryD on September 24, 2012, 08:23:16 PM
We were all over the last turn Dolfan. I was either sitting next to Bettor or in the area of the motorhome in the middle of the last turn. Of course I went to the grandstand each day too.

I ran into at least 50 ITS members during the four days they raced. idunno
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: tonyb147 on September 24, 2012, 09:34:04 PM
I think I am going to put an effort into getting to Delaware for The Jug next year. Pezz will likely join me. Any of the other Chi-town crew interested? Skipper?

Dolfan - try again next year. I have never been disappointed when I have met ITS members. Maybe plan on heading to Chicago after Jug day - Maywood on Friday night where you might meet Race Track Phil and then Balmoral Saturday.
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: pezz97 on September 24, 2012, 09:41:02 PM
I think I am going to put an effort into getting to Delaware for The Jug next year. Pezz will likely join me. Any of the other Chi-town crew interested? Skipper?

Dolfan - try again next year. I have never been disappointed when I have met ITS members. Maybe plan on heading to Chicago after Jug day - Maywood on Friday night where you might meet Race Track Phil and then Balmoral Saturday.
I am definitely in Next year. Pace Jug, and the Red Mile? Gonna have to try to do all 3. Pace and jug for sure
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: Dolfan on September 24, 2012, 10:18:32 PM
We were all over the last turn Dolfan. I was either sitting next to Bettor or in the area of the motorhome in the middle of the last turn. Of course I went to the grandstand each day too.

I ran into at least 50 ITS members during the four days they raced. idunno

I was out by the motor homes both days for one gimme race each day - Bluff (wrong gimme horse) & Pet Rock on Jug day.  Looked for anyone wearing an ITS shirt.  Would've helped having a cell phone # - that's how I met up with Giss.  Sorry to have missed you Gary.


Dolfan - try again next year. I have never been disappointed when I have met ITS members. Maybe plan on heading to Chicago after Jug day - Maywood on Friday night where you might meet Race Track Phil and then Balmoral Saturday.

I met Phil last year when I was in Chicago.  It's unlikely that I'll be making the Jug trip again.  Not that easy to take the time off & not that desirable to take those flights.  I wanted to see it, we got very lucky with the weather.  It was a good trip.


Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: careless hal on September 25, 2012, 04:44:15 AM
Giss couldn't give you Gary's number?  You could have PM'd me and I'd have given it to you.  Amy has posted her number a few times.(her business number).  It's best never to go to a strange track without getting the cell of a contact.  Especially when there are 43,000 people there.  Looks like you had a good time though. thumbsup
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: LVGaryD on September 25, 2012, 05:14:18 AM
Dolfan, Sometimes I tend to assume that everyone knows me since my pic is all over this site. I actually had on an In The Sulky hat on Wednesday, but was working on my tan on Thursday.

Mr Gisser also told me on Thursday that if you and I did not meet on Thursday, you were going to Dover on Friday. I knew there would be less than 100 people there, so generally I run into every single horse person in attendance at Dover.

Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: Just Saying on September 25, 2012, 08:37:31 AM
There were a bunch of us under the tent at the Brown Stable. That's the unnofficial 'ITS Field Office' Jug Week. I was looking for a Dolphins jersy or t-shirt but never saw one. Would've been nice to meet Dolfan & The Gisser. I (ahem) have never rated enough to get an ITS hat or shirt.

Brian Brown said that if races at Blmpk on Nationals night he'd like to come up to the grandstand and meet everybody. We should put together an ITS Hootenanny for that night.
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: jug on September 25, 2012, 08:52:18 AM
I think I am going to put an effort into getting to Delaware for The Jug next year. Pezz will likely join me. Any of the other Chi-town crew interested? Skipper?

Dolfan - try again next year. I have never been disappointed when I have met ITS members. Maybe plan on heading to Chicago after Jug day - Maywood on Friday night where you might meet Race Track Phil and then Balmoral Saturday.

I know someone who lives fairly close that has been known to house some chicago bums!  rflmao1.......and yes I will plenty of vacation time next year!!
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: jug on September 25, 2012, 08:54:18 AM
There were a bunch of us under the tent at the Brown Stable. That's the unnofficial 'ITS Field Office' Jug Week. I was looking for a Dolphins jersy or t-shirt but never saw one. Would've been nice to meet Dolfan & The Gisser. I (ahem) have never rated enough to get an ITS hat or shirt.

Brian Brown said that if races at Blmpk on Nationals night he'd like to come up to the grandstand and meet everybody. We should put together an ITS Hootenanny for that night.

I might be able to make that trip.......just please have someone other than Just Saying give me the date!!   ;D
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: Just Saying on September 25, 2012, 08:56:29 AM
I might be able to make that trip.......just please have someone other than Just Saying give me the date!!   ;D
You're just jealous that I had an extra month with Helga. 8)
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: Dolfan on September 25, 2012, 10:12:33 AM
Mr Gisser also told me on Thursday that if you and I did not meet on Thursday, you were going to Dover on Friday. I knew there would be less than 100 people there, so generally I run into every single horse person in attendance at Dover.

We got off to a late start on Friday & when we found out that there were only 5 races we drove straight to Pittsburgh so we missed Dover.
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: careless hal on September 25, 2012, 12:03:34 PM
I know someone who lives fairly close that has been known to house some chicago bums!  rflmao1.......and yes I will plenty of vacation time next year!!

Jug,  these guys are not used to sleeping on a stack of hay in the barn.  They are more of the silk sheets and bath salts set'.  Also , all are high rollers.  $500 a night  for a room wouldn't even dent their pocket change.
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: The Giss on September 25, 2012, 01:21:03 PM
For the record, I do not have Mr. Gary's phone number. Also for the record, Dolfan, it was a pleasure to meet and spend time with you as well. Finally, for the record, as loud as Amy usually iis, iam surprised we never found her.
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: LVGaryD on September 25, 2012, 02:32:50 PM
just Saying, Big Dee supplies the hats and shirts. I am fairly certain that Big Dre can't get shirts that small. The hats I totally forgot to order rhis year. idunno
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: pezz97 on September 25, 2012, 02:40:26 PM
I know someone who lives fairly close that has been known to house some chicago bums!  rflmao1.......and yes I will plenty of vacation time next year!!
And you are a very generous host!!  thumbsup thumbsup
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: AmyHollar on September 25, 2012, 02:42:08 PM
as loud as Amy usually iis, iam surprised we never found her.

 ::)
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: Dolfan on September 25, 2012, 03:12:05 PM
For the record, I do not have Mr. Gary's phone number. Also for the record, Dolfan, it was a pleasure to meet and spend time with you as well. Finally, for the record, as loud as Amy usually iis, iam surprised we never found her.

Giss, the pleasure was mine.  As I said, could've talked horses with you all day.  BTW, Corky & Lenny's was very good.  I can't get that corned beef anywhere in South Florida.


just Saying, Big Dee supplies the hats and shirts.

No mention of Big Dee prior.  I would've liked to have met Dennis, being that I am friends with his brother here in South Florida.  The only Big Dee area I saw was at the Hall of Fame tent that he sponsored.  They said he was not there.
Title: Re: My Jug-Mea-Nfld Experience
Post by: The Giss on September 25, 2012, 03:47:18 PM
Giss, the pleasure was mine.  As I said, could've talked horses with you all day.  BTW, Corky & Lenny's was very good.  I can't get that corned beef anywhere in South Florida.


No mention of Big Dee prior.  I would've liked to have met Dennis, being that I am friends with his brother here in South Florida.  The only Big Dee area I saw was at the Hall of Fame tent that he sponsored.  They said he was not there.

I told you Corky and Lenny's would be good. But Jack's- 10 or so minutes further- is better thumbsup.  But corned beef is like sex... When it's good, it's really, really good. And when it's not that great, it's still pretty good.