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Originally Posted by Valuist
Haven't seen you in a while on here. How's the new RD (Belterra)?
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Sorry I missed this . Thanks! Good to see you too. The new RD sucks! I like everything about it except the layout for racing was so piss poorly thought out it is unbelievable. They managed to make nearly every aspect of the racing experience as unbearable as possible. The paddock can only be accessed from 1 side so you can't get a look at anybody in their stalls so you have to wait til they come out in the walking ring. Plus before they would open the gate and let you cross over. They don't do that anymore. If you enter from the parking side into the paddock you are stuck til they come out on the track. I missed a 6-1 shot because of this 1st year. The grandstand is completely idiotic. They have a chintzy rail and canopy cover on it which screams cheap and it doesn't even cover the diminutive thing anyway. The lower part is bleacher seats which get direct sun and feel like an over from 25 feet away and forget sitting on metal bleachers in July. The lower part of the grandstand is squeezed between supports. There are all of about 15 total tvs and no tables to sit at. If you sit out near the track they have picnic tables and round covered tables but there is no tv in sight. It's the beer drunk gallery which I'm not into at least during racing. Then you have the new clubhouse which went from 2 stories and 700+ seats with good track views to 150 seats on 1 story and no track view. If you don't call in a day ahead of time you won't ever get a walk in seat and there is no where to sit down and go to work. You go over into any part of the casino bars and there is no racing on the TV's. On Opening day I milled around for about an hour and left. It was ridiculous, impractical, and downright frustrating. Plus within 3 months of the 1st year they slashed purses and they still write conditions which don't cater to any winners so there are no purse or condition incentives for good stables. It's lower tier Ohio Horsemen welfare and the whole show is put on for them.
But I call ahead now and get my seat and have gotten into a routine. I like being on track and I was always a runner anyway between paddock and up to grandstand to watch races then back to the work spot. I really like getting comped on bets. They have some good restaurants and bars. Soft drinks and coffee etc are free and it's right next to the racebook. Between Coney Island pool next door which I have been going to for 36 years since I was 7, racing, and the restaurants I might be down at the complex for 12 hours some days! I sorely miss the old grandstand though. There were a group of us on the 2nd floor on one end or the other and it had a gorgeous view of the track, had plenty of work space, easy access betting and concessions. I loved it. That's my spot though so I'll be there!
