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Why is No One Going to the Races?

Low attendance doesn't bode well for the season

By Erin Meanley Glenny

Ouch. Opening weekend at Del Mar was a dud. Admittedly, I wasn’t there (so, yeah, I’m part of the problem) but I’ve heard from people who were there that things were slower than slow. One food cashier on the stretch run has already been asked to reduce her hours from Thursdays through Sundays to just Saturdays and Sundays.

I’m sad the Bing Crosby season already doesn’t seem to be panning out. The Fairgrounds and Racetrack have always had a special place in my heart, as I grew up on a hill overlooking the grounds. The 22nd Agricultural District was even my first employer (starting at age 14, I worked many summers at what was then the Del Mar Fair).

Does no one else have my same level of excitement about cheering a horse across the finish line? Was yesterday’s poor attendance just due to Halloween? Do people still love the races? It’s chock full of cool characters. And it’s a fascinating place, especially behind the scenes.

If it’s just a slump, I hope it’s not “furlong.” I’m going to get a table with my family at the Clubhouse Terrace Restaurant, but I just wonder, has horse racing finally gone out of fashion? Where are all the fans?

Why is No One Going to the Races?

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