Who knows about horse racing?

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I'm curious, what is the youngest person you know that is addicted with going to the horse races? Describe that person; male, female, personality?

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[VTmotoMike08 0]

Probably about 18, male, college student. There is a glorious day every spring in Charlottesville, Virginia known as foxfields. Thousands of college girls in sundresses as far as the eye can see. More alcohol than you know what to do with. Everyone sets up tents, cars, whatever you have and grills food all day. Basically a huge social tailgate.

Rumor has it that there is also a horse race going on somewhere near this debauchery, but in all the years I have yet to see a horse. That is the closest thing I know to horse races. You could search any photo sharing website like webshots or flickr for "foxfields" to see some pics.

[tigra 0]

My parents took me to my first Kentucky Derby when I was 9 or 10. We sat in the infield with all the wild partiers! They managed to get a cooler full of beer past security because they put the snacks and sodas on top and had 4 young kids with them.

But, that didn't really make me a horse racing junkie since we only went once a year. Placing those $2.00 bets sure was fun though!

Years later, I did meet a real horse racing addict- more of a gambling addict in general actually. He knew all about the trifectas, perfectas, quinellas, exactas, etc. He was a ton of fun to go to the track with too, but he wasn't exactly young- in his 40s at the time. Still younger than a lot of the regulars that hung out there, though.

[quade 3]

Do you think it would be unbelievable as a story point for a woman in her mid-20s to be addicted to horse racing and in trouble with a loan shark?

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[tigra 0]

Are you talking about fiction? Gambling can be addictive, and addictions don't discriminate. Addicts can be any age, race or sex. So, fiction or not, yes, I think it is believable.

[GARYC24 3]

My neighbor 2 houses down in KY. Wayne was his name, same age as my older brother. Must have been ~29 yrs old It was around 1978-1980 when he & I hung out together. Wayne, like to drink whisky a lot! Wayne, live at home, I believe both his parents for full fledge alcoholics. Wayne, had a bookie, I often wondered if Wayne was a bookie as well. I don’t remember him ever speaking of being at the tracks, but he definetley was at bars very close to Churchill Downs. After, a few years he seemed to be sick, probably the booze, however, he still made bets, either for himself or someone else. I don’t even know if he’s still alive now. I grew up in Valley Station, Ky. went to Lousiville Downs (harness racing) and Churchhill Downs with my parents quite a few times while I was going to school.

[mccurley 0]

That's were you give money to the guy behind the little window and he goes out back and feeds it to a horse right??

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[jcd11235 0]

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Do you think it would be unbelievable as a story point for a woman in her mid-20s to be addicted to horse racing and in trouble with a loan shark?

I've never heard of anyone coming up with a profitable betting system on horses. Titanic Thompson, the greatest golfer to ever swing a club (not to mention being the greatest proposition bettor ever), lost thousands upon thousands of dollars trying, though. He was probably that young or younger when he started trying to win with the ponies. He was always over confident when it came to playing pool and betting horses. It was a damn good thing for him that he could beat anybody in the world by one stroke playing golf.

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[BikerBabe 0]

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Do you think it would be unbelievable as a story point for a woman in her mid-20s to be addicted to horse racing and in trouble with a loan shark?

not sure horse racing is all that popular anymore...unless the story is set in the 1920's. poker or blackjack or sports book betting, on the other hand, might be seen as more reasonable nowadays.

only time i've been to a race was the kentucky derby in 1999...i put 5 dollars on a little unknown horse named "Charismatic" and won. 30-1 odds! Why that horse? because like any little girl i always wanted a horse, and i was going to name my horse "Charisma", should i ever get one. It was fate, i tells ya! FATE!

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[quade 3]

I'm not married to the concept of horse racing, but it has hit all four of these points;

1) Something that takes place in LA,
2) That people would normally gamble on in public,
3) Where a camera would be allowed, (which blows out casino games like poker and blackjack)
4) And a person could conceivably get in trouble with a loan shark.

Given the requirements, I think I'm sort of stuck with horse racing, but am open to any suggestions.

I might need to go to Hollywood Park or Santa Anita as a research project tomorrow.

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[jcd11235 0]

Quote

I'm not married to the concept of horse racing, but it has hit all four of these points;

1) Something that takes place in LA,
2) That people would normally gamble on in public,
3) Where a camera would be allowed, (which blows out casino games like poker and blackjack)
4) And a person could conceivably get in trouble with a loan shark.

Given the requirements, I think I'm sort of stuck with horse racing, but am open to any suggestions.

Pool fits those requirements as well, more or less, if the twenty-something girl plays well enough to have a backer. The backer could have some bad debt related to one of her sessions, and the person to whom the money is owed holds her responsible as well (or perhaps solely responsible due to backer's untimely, yet unrelated, death).

Just a thought.

I think outside of casinos and card rooms, most gambling that involves large sums of money and young people will also involve backers.

Technically, wagering on oneself in a game of pool doesn't meet the criteria for gambling in most states, but the difference is pretty subtle.

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[LyraM45 0]

I grew up a little rug rat running around the back paddocks of Atlantic City Race Track, Deleware Park, and Philadelphia Park. My dad is a thoroughbred trainer, and I went ahead and got my ticket when I was 19, but mostly to help out with some scholarships that made me eligable through the NTRA with. Am I addicted to the races? Not so much, but I do enjoy the track since it reminds me of being a little girl with daddy at work.

Apologies for the spelling (and grammar).... I got a B.S, not a B.A. :)

[quade 3]

Quote

I grew up a little rug rat running around the back paddocks of Atlantic City Race Track, Deleware Park, and Philadelphia Park. My dad is a thoroughbred trainer, and I went ahead and got my ticket when I was 19, but mostly to help out with some scholarships that made me eligable through the NTRA with. Am I addicted to the races? Not so much, but I do enjoy the track since it reminds me of being a little girl with daddy at work.

Very similar to the backstory I've worked up for this character if I use the horse race thing.

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The World's Most Boring Skydiver