The Last Race - Bay Meadows

I went to see the horse races Friday afternoon at Bay Meadows as a prelude to going to the county fair that evening. It seemed like the nostalgic thing to do. A sense of finality was in the air as a mostly older crowd watched the races and enjoyed the nice weather. There were a few kids in tow, including my two teenagers, as we parents tried to infuse a little history into the texting and Facebook-obsessed generation it seemed to work as the raw speed and beauty of the beasts made an impression on them--as it did me. Friday was so fun that I went back again today the last day. It was an entirely different feeling. The parking lot was full at 1:30; 15 minutes before the first post time. Once inside, it felt like the county fairs of my youth in Massachusetts with thousands of people basking in the sun and perusing their racing programs. The weather was far better than anything I recall from Great Barrington, Mass. in the 60s. And when does a mile and 1/16th ever go by that fast? The overriding thought was what if the track owners had taken a different approach to marketing?? A bit of paint, smarter placement of the PA speakers and video screens, a cool slogan, a corporate sponsorship and it might all have turned out differently. I never bowled at the lanes on Howard Ave. in Burlingame. I saw a half dozen movies at the Drive-in theatre on Airport Blvd., saw some great bands at Route 66 and thoroughly enjoyed dinner at the Sherman two weeks ago, but I'm sure another mid-sized sea of condos in San Mateo just won't make much of a difference to me except when I have to commute through what is already the worst section of 101.

- Written by Joe

Comments

[Susan Churchill]

Where were all the people when the referendum was going on? Where were all these folks when City Council decided to override the people's vote and determine we no longer needed Bay Meadows Racetrack? The SM City Council should still hear everyone's dissatisfaction because they still think it is just a small handful of people who wanted the track to stay ... and they are wrong.

I was surprised to see, Joe, that you knew of the County Fair at Great Barrington, Mass. My greatest joy was visiting my cousins, the Dapretto's (7 daughters) (I had six brothers - I was the only girl) during the summers. We would go to the fair and the track. Later my parents moved there for a couple of years and opened a restaurant near the bowling alley. My Cousins and Grandmother lived in S. Egremont. They owned a snack bar on the highway. I loved it there. Now that was a small town!!