This race track a world of difference
By Art Wilson | |
PUBLISHED: October 10, 2008 at 12:00 am | UPDATED: August 30, 2017 at 12:12 pm
As we approached Galopprennbahn Riem, one of Germany's major thoroughbred race tracks, in Munich last week, I reached for the euro coins in my pocket so I could pay for parking.
But to my surprise, we drove in and parked for free, within 50 yards of the main entrance.
It was my first clue that this wasn't Santa Anita, Hollywood Park or Del Mar, where you're a few dollars in the hole before you make your first bet.
And if you're having a bad day at the windows, you can walk to your car, grab your golf clubs out of the trunk and play 18 holes in the infield.
Horse racing in Germany is not quite the same as an afternoon at Del Mar or a Friday night at Hollywood Park.
In fact, the differences were striking on this day.
There are no synthetic or dirt tracks. It's all turf racing, rain or shine.
Unfortunately, there was more rain than shine on this day, and the persistent heavy drizzle left the course labeled soft and a haven for horses that liked to close.
There is no winner's circle at Galopprennbahn Riem, thus no ceremony for the winning connections.
Instead, the also-rans leave the track through a gate in the fence and head back to their barns, followed by the top three finishers as the fans applaud the winning horse.
There is no totalizator board in the infield to let the horse players know the odds before the race or the payoffs afterward. For the casual bettor, it's difficult to discern what's going on.
I played five races on the afternoon and hit three of them, yet I had no idea how much I was going to win. About 10 minutes after each race, the amount of time it takes for the result to become official, I walked up to the teller and just about doubled my money with each winning wager.
I was struck by how close the horses are to the fans as they walk by the fence toward the starting gate. The finish line is almost at the end of a long stretch, leaving horse and rider little time before the first turn.
There are two walking rings, one where the horses are saddled and the other where owners, trainers and jockeys gather for last-minute preparations.
Both areas are surrounded by trees in what really is quite a beautiful setting.
Don't look for a Daily Racing Form if you're in Germany and want to know the past performances of the horses.
I had to buy a publication called "Turf," which showed the last two efforts by each horse, a brief synopsis of the race and selections for the top three finishers.
Problem was, the synopsis was in German and did me about as much good as chopsticks in an Italian restaurant.
Luckily, I found a teller who was kind and patient enough to deal with an American racegoer who knew nothing about how to bet in her country.
When I walked to the window before the first race and said I wanted to bet five euro across the board on the number six horse, Rikkola, I knew trouble was brewing when she gave me a look like I'd just ordered a cheeseburger at Panda Express.
But it wasn't long before she had me correctly filling out the cards you must use for any type of bet, and I soon learned that when I bet a horse across the board, it could finish fourth and I'd still win if there were enough horses in the field.
But perhaps the biggest difference between racing in Germany and the U.S. is this – the race meeting at Galopprennbahn Riem runs from April to November but includes only 15 racing days in 2008.
There is no more than one race day per week, normally Sundays but sometimes on national holidays, and often times no racing.
Contrast that schedule with the virtual year-round racing in America and you see why maybe some sort of change is in order.
There is too much racing here and maybe not enough overseas.
Sometimes it takes a 6,000-mile journey to open your eyes.
art.wilson@sgvn.com
Art Wilson
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