RaceCafe..#1...Tipsters Thread.... Share Your Fancies For Fun...Lets See Who The Best Tipsters Here Are.
Aaron Bidlake

Los Alamitos and Golden Gate

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39 minutes ago, Aaron Bidlake said:

Just about to board a plane on family holiday, in Anaheim this week so was going to try and get along to races and possibly training one morning. Few weeks time and will try and get to Golden Gate. 

Hello Aaron, once you've met Micky Mouse I know they are racing at Del Mar at moment but Clockers Corner may still be open in mornings for a coffee and breakfast burrito  as I think Santa Anita kicks off again Boxing Day. It's a top backdrop those mountains. 

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Hi Matty and I went to Golden Gate races two years ago. We rang the admin beforehand and they gave us a table in the main area right opposite the winning post. Very well looked after, enjoy. Pitty 

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12 hours ago, uneasy said:

Hi Matty and I went to Golden Gate races two years ago. We rang the admin beforehand and they gave us a table in the main area right opposite the winning post. Very well looked after, enjoy. Pitty 

I was thinking of flicking them an email if I couldn't find a contact through here. Golden Gate on a Sunday looks the go, $1 day, $1 entry, beers, hotdogs.... That's me. 

Thanks. 

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Managed to get along to Los Alametos yesterday, pretty low grade day from what I gather.i don't speak Mexican so didn't really get a chance to talk to many people in regards tracks etc, one lady trainer I managed to have a quick talk to did say a lot of tracks were ripped up as they were just not up to scratch and have gone back to dirt at a cost of millions of dollars of dead money. 

One thing I did like was how all the horses come up to the saddling area together and saddled in front of public, gave the punters a good chance to have look. It was quite funny after the first race, the jockeys heading back after there ride and I was thinking something not right, then I clicked that they didn't have the sadlle or whip, they have someone carrying all the gear and translating to the trainers as it appeared very few spoke English. 

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2 hours ago, Aaron Bidlake said:

Managed to get along to Los Alametos yesterday, pretty low grade day from what I gather.i don't speak Mexican so didn't really get a chance to talk to many people in regards tracks etc, one lady trainer I managed to have a quick talk to did say a lot of tracks were ripped up as they were just not up to scratch and have gone back to dirt at a cost of millions of dollars of dead money. 

One thing I did like was how all the horses come up to the saddling area together and saddled in front of public, gave the punters a good chance to have look. It was quite funny after the first race, the jockeys heading back after there ride and I was thinking something not right, then I clicked that they didn't have the sadlle or whip, they have someone carrying all the gear and translating to the trainers as it appeared very few spoke English. 

How did it stack up as a track facilities, food drink , viewing , price , location etc Aaron ? Was it quarter horse or thoroughbred meeting . It's a bit off the normal US track for racing visits so i for one would be really interested to know.Thanks .

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On 12/14/2018 at 12:04 PM, Red Rum said:

How did it stack up as a track facilities, food drink , viewing , price , location etc Aaron ? Was it quarter horse or thoroughbred meeting . It's a bit off the normal US track for racing visits so i for one would be really interested to know.Thanks .

The facilities were superb, I only hung around the public area because it was closest to the horses but everything very clean and tidy there. Had a nosy in the 'vessles' lounge, $10 entry and was very nice in there, looked a nice wine list and decent menu. 

I went back the following day to the night meeting, once again $3 entry to the track, there was two very low class TB races, one TB and QH mixed(no QH started though), and five Quarter horse races including the Southern California Derby for around 150,000 us$. 

Had myself a chilli dog and chips for $9 and it was massive, I couldn't get through it and I go pretty good on the chew. Beer to wash it down around $6 I think it was. 

Location was good, about $20 each way in the Uber from Anaheim, about 1km from Disney where we stayed. 

The viewing, it sold me! Well the night racing did, I think from memory the longest TB race that night was 1000meters and they started top of the back straight, they shortened the track up for it, the day time straight looked about 400 and the night was 200 at a guess. Reminded me of Alexandra park but with the short course racing, even the TB races the finishes were close and crowd was into it. 

The quarter horse racing was new to me, but picked every winner including a first starter that after seeing him couldn't see him beat on looks, was $16 when I backed it but come into $8s, but that was really only $4s as prices paid in $2 bets as $2 minimum win, place and show bets. Found the Derby winner as well, he was a lovely horse but once again he was smashed on the tote late. 

The only thing I struggled with was the weight scale, obviously done in pounds but I didn't like the race book order done on draws not weight. 

Would have gone again had I had the chance but we left the next day to Hollywood, grubby place place and apart from the touristy stuff for the kids it didn't do much for me.... On the bus to Vegas now

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41 minutes ago, Aaron Bidlake said:

The facilities were superb, I only hung around the public area because it was closest to the horses but everything very clean and tidy there. Had a nosy in the 'vessles' lounge, $10 entry and was very nice in there, looked a nice wine list and decent menu. 

I went back the following day to the night meeting, once again $3 entry to the track, there was two very low class TB races, one TB and QH mixed(no QH started though), and five Quarter horse races including the Southern California Derby for around 150,000 us$. 

Had myself a chilli dog and chips for $9 and it was massive, I couldn't get through it and I go pretty good on the chew. Beer to wash it down around $6 I think it was. 

Location was good, about $20 each way in the Uber from Anaheim, about 1km from Disney where we stayed. 

The viewing, it sold me! Well the night racing did, I think from memory the longest TB race that night was 1000meters and they started top of the back straight, they shortened the track up for it, the day time straight looked about 400 and the night was 200 at a guess. Reminded me of Alexandra park but with the short course racing, even the TB races the finishes were close and crowd was into it. 

The quarter horse racing was new to me, but picked every winner including a first starter that after seeing him couldn't see him beat on looks, was $16 when I backed it but come into $8s, but that was really only $4s as prices paid in $2 bets as $2 minimum win, place and show bets. Found the Derby winner as well, he was a lovely horse but once again he was smashed on the tote late. 

The only thing I struggled with was the weight scale, obviously done in pounds but I didn't like the race book order done on draws not weight. 

Would have gone again had I had the chance but we left the next day to Hollywood, grubby place place and apart from the touristy stuff for the kids it didn't do much for me.... On the bus to Vegas now

Brilliant write up Aaron , very interesting because like I wrote it's off the touristy map as racecourses go and never read about it in those various racetracks of the world type books. I've never seen the QH racing live , would like to though. Lukas and Baffert kicked off in the QH scene.

I think the extra loop and longer straight was added at LA when Hollywood Park closed and they got extra TB meets.Sounds very reasonably priced trip to races.

 Chilli Dog washed down with a beer , living the american dream.Totally agree Hollywood pretty shabby area, not what I imagined it to be as a kid .

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1 hour ago, Aaron Bidlake said:

The facilities were superb, I only hung around the public area because it was closest to the horses but everything very clean and tidy there. Had a nosy in the 'vessles' lounge, $10 entry and was very nice in there, looked a nice wine list and decent menu. 

I went back the following day to the night meeting, once again $3 entry to the track, there was two very low class TB races, one TB and QH mixed(no QH started though), and five Quarter horse races including the Southern California Derby for around 150,000 us$. 

Had myself a chilli dog and chips for $9 and it was massive, I couldn't get through it and I go pretty good on the chew. Beer to wash it down around $6 I think it was. 

Location was good, about $20 each way in the Uber from Anaheim, about 1km from Disney where we stayed. 

The viewing, it sold me! Well the night racing did, I think from memory the longest TB race that night was 1000meters and they started top of the back straight, they shortened the track up for it, the day time straight looked about 400 and the night was 200 at a guess. Reminded me of Alexandra park but with the short course racing, even the TB races the finishes were close and crowd was into it. 

The quarter horse racing was new to me, but picked every winner including a first starter that after seeing him couldn't see him beat on looks, was $16 when I backed it but come into $8s, but that was really only $4s as prices paid in $2 bets as $2 minimum win, place and show bets. Found the Derby winner as well, he was a lovely horse but once again he was smashed on the tote late. 

The only thing I struggled with was the weight scale, obviously done in pounds but I didn't like the race book order done on draws not weight. 

Would have gone again had I had the chance but we left the next day to Hollywood, grubby place place and apart from the touristy stuff for the kids it didn't do much for me.... On the bus to Vegas now

Sounds like a good trip... and maybe night racing again at Avondale could be a prospect again...I loved the night races before...even just a few over the holidays or the summer...anything is worth a try..isn't it???

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1 hour ago, scooby3051 said:

Sounds like a good trip... and maybe night racing again at Avondale could be a prospect again...I loved the night races before...even just a few over the holidays or the summer...anything is worth a try..isn't 

Is it the jockey, trainer travelling why it's not done .Decent percentage of fixtures in UK and Ireland evening fixtures. Hugely popular with big crowds especially Monday nights at Windsor through summer.More and more courses there going floodlit for autumn, winter evening racing , Southwell turns on lights this week. Now mobile betting taking over so easy to punt from couch  , would off course turnover be better as well. I know I watch more racing live on Friday nights than during week or weekend as I resort to mysky then  because during days theres work, kids sport etc etc.

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6 hours ago, Aaron Bidlake said:

Location was good, about $20 each way in the Uber from Anaheim, about 1km from Disney where we stayed. 

Back in 2003 was a $2 bus ride down one long road that from memory connected the Angels Ball Park at one end to the Long Bay port at the other, went right past Los Alamitos. We enjoyed 2 nights of racing there.  The Amtrac train to Del Mar was a wonderful day out too.

Thanks for the report Aaron, shows what can be done with population, and be sustained over many years.

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Every Sunday here at Golden Gate Fields is $1  day, it is just average quality horses but once again the people don't care, they are here having fun dri king up a storm and betting away. 

Could NZ get a brewery on board like these guys have budweiser and even once a month a $1 day, and just get the people on track. 

Ps. I'm 5 hotdogs, 6 beers, and on my 7th Mamosa so please excuse any spelling or poor wording. 

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1 hour ago, Aaron Bidlake said:

Every Sunday here at Golden Gate Fields is $1  day, it is just average quality horses but once again the people don't care, they are here having fun dri king up a storm and betting away. 

Could NZ get a brewery on board like these guys have budweiser and even once a month a $1 day, and just get the people on track. 

Ps. I'm 5 hotdogs, 6 beers, and on my 7th Mamosa so please excuse any spelling or poor wording. 

Looks a winner for sure , looks like plenty there . Russell Baze I think rode 250000 winners there all told. I think he knew the ins  and outs of that oval.

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How many, 250,000 or am I seeing double? 

The downfall is now I'm stuck in a bloody shopping mall accross the road the kids noticed on the way in, half boozed and hungry and no chance of getting out of here in a hurry. 

I did manage to talk to a local trainer about the Tapeta track and he couldn't speak highly enough of it, 1500 in work there and working every day on it, race almost all year round four times a week. They were one of the first to put it in and apart from putting extra material  on it have basically had to do nothing to it.  I asked about any negatives like injuries and he couldn't say any negatives at all, I don't know if he was a good trainer or not and/or  know of his break down rate etc but he had me thinking.

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Just now, Aaron Bidlake said:

How many, 250,000 or am I seeing double? 

The downfall is now I'm stuck in a bloody shopping mall accross the road the kids noticed on the way in, half boozed and hungry and no chance of getting out of here in a hurry. 

I did manage to talk to a local trainer about the Tapeta track and he couldn't speak highly enough of it, 1500 in work there and working every day on it, race almost all year round four times a week. They were one of the first to put it in and apart from putting extra material  on it have basically had to do nothing to it.  I asked about any negatives like injuries and he couldn't say any negatives at all, I don't know if he was a good trainer or not and/or  know of his break down rate etc but he had me thinking.

Maybe not that many winners  , but he caned it there for years and years . Santa Anita has a right good shopping  mall across the parking lot from the track and they kicked off boxing day .

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On 12/31/2018 at 1:35 PM, Aaron Bidlake said:

Every Sunday here at Golden Gate Fields is $1  day, it is just average quality horses but once again the people don't care, they are here having fun dri king up a storm and betting away. 

Could NZ get a brewery on board like these guys have budweiser and even once a month a $1 day, and just get the people on track. 

Ps. I'm 5 hotdogs, 6 beers, and on my 7th Mamosa so please excuse any spelling or poor wording. 

Went to Golden Gate a few years back while staying up the road in Berkely.

View out the window in the men's toilet up in the grandstand while standing at the urinal was straight down the bay to the Golden Gate Bridge - unreal :-)

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Certainly some beautiful scenery around that Bay area, but am I glad to be home! As much as I enjoyed all the tourist things, my donations at the casinos in Vegas and the days at the races, the homeless people everywhere was not pleasant and really quite an eye opener and i've done a few third world countries travel but this was worse with so many off there head on drugs it was just awful to see.

Back in NZ and back into trying to rebuild the stable numbers again and find another decent horse. 

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