Horseracing still popular in Omaha

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 9:50 am

8,000 show up at the track by the garbage dump! 42,000 expected for the weekend. I'm curious if at some point... Horsemen Park's season will be extended... perhaps even a more respectible venue sought.

World Herald story...

Jitterbug Joy wins Horsemen's feature

Horsemen's Park

Trainer Herb Riecken had a little added incentive to win Thursday night's feature race at Horsemen's Park.

The race was named after Fantango Lady, a Riecken mare that won more than $265,000. The popular Fremont trainer then watched as Jitterbug Joy, a full sister to Fantango Lady, did the family proud by going under the wire first by 11/2 lengths.

"This one looks as good as the other horse, but has never run quite as fast," Riecken said. "She was good enough today."

The win by the filly was the highlight of the first day of Horsemen's annual live meet. The track, in its seventh season of live racing, will hold four more races each of the next three days.

"Everything went very smoothly," said General Manager Dick Moore. "The fans are always happy to have live racing back, and we're happy to bring it to them."

An estimated 8,000 attended the races Thursday, the same number who attended opening day last year. Horsemen's Park set an attendance record during its live meet in 2003, drawing an estimated 42,000.

"We know Thursday isn't going to be our biggest day," he said, "but the forecast sounds good for this weekend."

The return of racing and the accompanying festive atmosphere - live bands and food vendors - always draw a mix of longtime fans and newcomers. One of the veterans was Bill Maaske, a fan from Woodbine, Iowa, who watched the races in the shaded grandstand with his 12-year-old son, Tom.

"We've made it to the races each year they've run," Bill Maaske said. "I love it, but I wish they would run more."

In the air-conditioned clubhouse, another fan well known to local racing was watching. Former jockey John Lively, who won 10 riding titles at the now-closed Ak-Sar-Ben, said he now enjoys just being a spectator.

"I've got great memories of this city," he said. "This is lot different from Ak-Sar-Ben, but it's a very nice facility."

Lively, who retired in 1991, keeps busy traveling in his motorhome with wife Pat. They have been married for 43 years.

"Even though I've got a lot of spare time, we don't go to tracks very much," he said. "Before today, I think I've been once in the past seven years."

Lively undoubtedly would have approved of the ride Dan Beck gave Jitterbug Joy in the feature. The Lytrump filly opened up a clear lead in the one-mile race and held off runner-up Sheso to pay $5.20 to win.

"I thought she had a good chance today," Riecken said, "but I didn't think we'd be on the lead quite so much. Everything turned out OK, though."

Riecken is probably best known as the owner and trainer of Who Doctor Who, one of the most popular Nebraska-breds ever. The Doctor, who is 21 years old, is still enjoying his retirement on Riecken's farm.

"He had a little bit of a leg problem, but that's all cleared up," Riecken said. "He's got a little gray hair, but outside of that he's been doing great."

Beck became the fourth jockey to win a race Thursday. He was preceded by Perry Compton (aboard Chiming in the first), Rob Williams (Icy Calm in the second) and Jerry Carkeek (Rarely Caught in the third).

"We had good races and the fans went home happy," Moore said. "For the first day, I'd say things went real well."

Finish Line

Tonight's first post is 6 o'clock . . .The mutuel handle - on-track ($135,996) and off-track ($46,503) - totaled $182,499. That was almost $20,000 more than last year's total of $162,615 . . . Replays of the races are being shown on Cox Cable Channel 2 at 9:30 p.m. . . .Tonight's feature is the $27,500 Falls Amiss Handicap. Seven horses will go to the post, including the Riecken-trained entry of Mayihavethisdance and Magic Trump . . . The biggest win price Thursday night was the $16.60 that Rarely Caught paid to win the third race. The shortest price was the $4.60 that Icy Calm paid to win the second race.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 10:38 am

I recently heard an interview with Moore.
They could extend their season if greater revenue came in -
from - you guessed it - slot machines.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 11:29 pm

Horsemen's Park brought in a record 46,000 people this year.
Moore was again on 1620 today pimping slot machines for Nebraska.
Another reason they can't hold more races is limited space.
They only have three barns with a total of 90 stalls for horses.
Last year they added an extra day so they now have 4 days - 16 races.
There is talk of adding an extra race on Saturday and Sunday.
They would also like to obtain more land to the east to make the track a mile long.
A sad replacement of Ak-Sar-Ben.

ak267 · Post by **ak267** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 7:31 pm

I can only wonder if Omaha had adopted casino gambling in the 1990's would Aksrben had been saved????

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 7:55 pm

Yes Ak - (welcome to eOmaha)
I believe tht casino gambling would have saved AkSarBen
just as it would help Horseman's Park.
Seeing the Ak destroyed is painful.
My grandfather was an Ak-man.
He knew every jockey and owner and knew who was riding and who was just along for the ride.
I made a killing following his advice.
But it was keno that killed the Ak.

Post by **Brad** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 4:21 pm

Horse racing starts tonight at 6.

Tonight - 6p
Friday - 6p
Saturday - 2p
Sunday - 2p

http://www.horsemenspark.com/ns/Calenda ... ventId=704

Post by **Brad** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 7:40 pm

Live from Horsemans Park....

Race three:

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jul 23, 2010 9:27 am

Horse Racing: Despite heat, fans show up in force

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100722/S ... p-in-force

Mike Patterson WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER wrote:An estimated 5,000 attended the four-race card at the Omaha racetrack and wagered $120,885.90. Although that was 4 percent lower than the $127,229.90 wagered on opening night last year, the temperature — 92 degrees for the first race — probably had something to do with that.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jul 23, 2010 9:10 pm

Another great night at the track... Wish my gambling was great too...

Omaha Nighthawks here everywhere too.

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 11:55 am

Casino gambling would have saved Ak Sar Ben but the horses would have been completely over shadowed by it. Horse racing was popular with a different generation and because it had little competition.

The Ak went away and down for a number of factors. It was hurt when horse racing expanded to border states, the dog track in the bluffs, Keno, then finally the boats.

Greg