Horse Racing: An afternoon at the races

Comedian George Carlin said a game wasn't a sport if it didn't use a ball. So, you could argue that horse racing is not a sport. However, many would disagree with you, including those who bet on horse races.

I killed some time recently at an Off-Track Betting site in The Bronx. Even if you don't like gambling, it's worth going to OTB once. The people-watching is hard to match elsewhere.

A sign on the wall said "no minors." Trust me, it's not the kind of place where you'd want to bring along the kiddies. A man standing near me used the F word about 25 times during a race that lasted a little more than one minute. You'd think the place had a sign that said 'no women' as all the bettors were men. Women are certainly allowed in, but I'd never bring my fiancee, mother or sister there.

This was a pretty seedy looking crowd. One big dude wore a white fuzzy hat, black leather jacket, and a boatload of fake gold chains. Something about his look told me he was someone to avoid. The faces on a few guys looked weathered by cold and the misery of losing entire paychecks.

That misery must have been too much for one bettor. I don't know what he said to the woman working the counter, but she was screaming at him and threatening to throw his butt out of the building. She might have choked him if it wasn't for the bulletproof glass separating them.

If you have a weak stomach, find somewhere else to go. I can't really describe the foul smell I encountered in one section of the room. At first, I thought I was standing near a poorly ventilated bathroom. I then determined the smell came from someone who spent too much time betting and not enough time with soap and water.

Looking around the room, you could see old faces and young faces. Some of them appeared to be regulars. You could pick that up from their banter with the betting attendants and with each other. If these people are regulars, man, I hope they're winning at least some of the time.

Even though this crowd had a hard edge, people left me alone. My time there was fairly enjoyable, and I'd consider going back. If you ever go, take this advice: get in, do your business, then get out quickly.