A Day at the Races

A Day at the Races
Mountaineer Casino & Racetrack
New Cumberland, West Virginia
April 12, 2014

I’m not much of a gambler but I feel like I get a lot of bang for my two bucks ($2 minimum bet on horse racing) and I’ve always enjoyed horse races like the Kentucky Derby so making the short drive to Mountaineer Racetrack to bet on a few horses is a fun way to spend an evening.  My sister Jo, who also loves horses, and I decided to make a day out of going to the races.

After stopping at our dad’s on the way down, we stopped at Grinders Above & Beyond in Minerva, Ohio, for a family favorite of sharing a grinder and potato skins.  After devouring lunch, Jo and I headed on, having a chuckle about the giant cow installed along the road near the dairy in town.

 

The drive down to Mountaineer is scenic and quick- we were paying $1 to drive across a bridge over the Ohio River in no time.  As we made our way along the route my sister Joanna told me that her boss had visited a Feistaware Outlet Store in Newell, WV- minutes later we saw a sign for the store and decided to stop.  Jo and I bypassed the front and went to the back where giant crates held big piles of Fiestaware.  After closely inspecting a few handled soup bowls, I decided to pick them up at a deep discount.  Jo and I also each purchased $2 grab bags and were surprised and happy with our bargain finds!

From there we headed onto Mountaineer.  We stopped at the casino first, just to look around and put a little money on #11 on the roulette table for Neil.  We bought a scratch sheet and selected our horses based on criteria such as odds, number and cuteness of name- things like Serrated Edge, Ten Tequilas or Campfire- things I like. We took in the first races from the outside deck so we could feel their power as they raced by, then found a table in front of the Mountaineer Club and enjoyed drinks and snacks as we cheered for our horses. 

Jo experienced one crippling defeat when her horse won the race and Jo won about $80 only to lose it when her horse was disqualified.  Still, Joanna left up at least $10 while I was down about $9 but the fun that went with those hours of anticipation and excitement in the atmosphere was worth every penny. 

We stopped at another family favorite on our way home- the Steel Trolley Diner, of course- for the Hodge Podge fried veggie platter and sodas, then drove home exhausted after our big day.  I’m really looking forward to a day when we can gather a large group of people to head over and make a party out of betting on a few horses!