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With racing forms under their arms and foaming brew or
watery cocktails in hand, spectators rustle through the stands
between races at the Lincoln Fairgrounds.
The talk is of longshots and favorites; also-rans and surprise
winners. The accent is on fun .
There is no catch-all description to define the individuals in
the crowd.
An elderly man ponders the entries of the next race listed
on his scratch sheet as his gnarled and slow-moving. Angers
akwardiy thumb through a modest stack of one-dollar bills.
In the next row, a young man gulps down the last remain
ing slosh of beer from a crumpled wax cup. He wipes the foam
away from his mustache and jokes with his companions about
the money he has "dropped.'
An unidentified cashier at a betting window says one of the
most interesting things about the temporary job is, "the
variety of people that come to the track."
They're all so different, yet I think everybody out here'
has something in common," he said. "We're all crazy."
As the lights on the infield tote board flash the odds for the
next race, bettors make their decisions and head for windows
to place their bets.
The horses are paraded past the grandstand en route to the
starting gate. The jockeys sit high in their saddles as they move
their mounts down the track. '
With tickets clutched in hand, many people move to the rail
for a better vantage point from which to watch the race.
The announce reforms the crowd that the horses are near
ing the gate. Then the long-awaited: "And they're all in
place."
A bell rings and the race begins. Spectators spring to their
feet and cheer horses on by name or by number.
. The horses are coming out of the final turn as a herd of
people rush to the rail near the finish line to see them thunder
past.
The race is over.
The unofficial results, are posted on the board, followed
soon by the official results.
Some members of the crowd scamper to cash tickets. Dis
gusted, other spectators wad or tear losing tickets and throw
the remnants.
But the losers will have a chance to win their money back.
The next race is coming right up.
Wednesday, august 22, 1979
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