Young Racing Fans Enjoy Unique Belmont-Parx Double

In BloodHorse's "At the Track" monthly column, we take a look at some of the unique experiences, events, ideas, facilities, or hospitality options racetracks across the country are using to help increase attendance, experiences, wagering, and connections with racing fans new and old. One of the most important questions for racing to answer as it looks toward the future is how to get the younger generation interested and involved in the sport. And while many different ideas and theories are coming out of that question, the good news is that racing's youngest fanbase that does exist carries lots of excitement to be part of it. That was evident Sept. 18-19 when several young racing fans took advantage of a unique experience. That experience was not necessarily coordinated by the operators of Belmont Park and Parx Racing, but it still ended up being a home run. The new Belmont Park opened Friday after three years of construction. While that was an event in itself, the card was further bolstered by the fact that the New York Racing Association decided to host the historic Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) on the Friday afternoon card, and the race attracted global superstar Forever Young (JPN). While some online were critical of NYRA's decision to hold opening day and the Gold Cup on a Friday, that decision was praised by many East Coast racing fans as it would not impact their ability to also attend the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx Saturday, the Keystone State's biggest day of racing. "Originally I was a little stressed out about it and was like, 'Man, I'm going to have to choose one or the other,'" Dalaney Spidle, a 19-year-old racing fan from Carlisle, Pa., said. "But then I realized I could go with my friends and we can all carpool together. That would make it a lot easier." There were many familiar faces at Parx Saturday that were seen at Belmont Friday, taking advantage of having two major race days on the same weekend within relatively close proximity. The two tracks are located about 2 1/2 hours apart with Belmont on Long Island in Elmont, N.Y., and Parx in Bensalem, Pa., just outside of Philadelphia. The best news for racing, though, is that quite a few of those familiar faces are from the younger generation and had a genuine excitement building into the weekend. Twenty-year-old Sam Boyer of Berrysburg, Pa., said that the Belmont/Parx double worked perfectly for her as she likes to constantly be on the go. She did not originally have tickets for Belmont and had been planning on just the Pennsylvania Derby. However, when the opportunity opened to get a ticket and her friends, such as Spidle, were going, she jumped at the opportunity. "Every time I'm here, I'm thrilled," Boyer said of attending racing in person. "I have a blast being on the rail cheering. I make my own fun." Friday's card at Belmont was extra special for Boyer as the first two races were won by trainer Shug McGaughey. Boyer's father has been a McGaughey fan since the 1980s, and it was when he won the Kentucky Derby (G1) with Orb in 2013 that really drew Boyer into the fandom herself. "You're part of history at that point. As someone who loves the history of American horse racing, it was really cool to be a part of it," Boyer said of being at the new Belmont's opening day. "Seeing Shug win the first two races at Belmont was really important to me. I cried a little." Opening day was also important to attend for Sammy Roseman, a 19-year-old racing fan from Cherry Hill, N.J. Roseman's grandfather and uncle have always been big racing fans, which led to Roseman watching the Triple Crown each year. In 2017, he researched where Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming was going to run next after skipping the Belmont Stakes (G1) following a loss in the Preakness Stakes (G1). He then discovered the colt was targeting the Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park in New Jersey, just about an hour away. Always Dreaming ended up not running in the Haskell, but Roseman and his father, Ira, still made the journey to see Girvin win a thrilling edition of the Haskell. The experience got Roseman and his father even deeper into the sport, Ira having since joined several partnerships owning Thoroughbreds. Roseman was in attendance at Belmont Park when Justify won the Triple Crown in 2018 and had made many trips on the track's biggest racing days in the past. "It was really important to me personally," Roseman said of being at Belmont's opening day. "I grew up going to Belmont and to see the transition into a new era, it was special for me to be there. Growing up, I got to see Justify win the Triple Crown, I got to see all the big days there. To see the transformation was really important." Meanwhile for Spidle, the push to attend Belmont was more for the horse than the track, Forever Young to be specific. Spidle's deep interest in racing has come more recently than Boyer and Roseman. A horse lover since she was young, she followed racing here and there, but has become more involved over the last year since the release of the video game Umamusume: Pretty Derby. The Japanese game's human characters are based off real-life racehorses. Many Umamusume fans made the journey to Belmont to see Forever Young, although Spidle said she had fallen in love with the horse before playing the game as he began racking up wins across the world. His presence was another reminder on how much weight a star racehorse gives toward drawing racing fans. "If he wasn't there, I don't think I would have went," Spidle said. "I love Forever Young." Forever Young was also a big draw for Roseman. "It really did elevate the day," Roseman said. "To see a horse like that who's done globe-trotting all around the world and winning all the premier races, for him to be there on opening day will always be special. I've always wanted to see Forever Young." Whether it was the track opening or Forever Young that drew them to Belmont, Parx was also calling the next day as the track is local to all three. And, of course, they wanted to attend their home track on its biggest day of the season. "It is very unique," Roseman said of the ability to do the Belmont/Parx double. "Going from new Belmont to Parx, which is my home track and I love it, it's great. I was looking forward to it. My legs are a little tired, but we live." By being at both tracks, it also gave them the experience of interacting with different players within the sport. Boyer is a big fan of jockeys and enjoys collecting their autographs and being able to interact with them. By attending consecutive days at different tracks, it gave her the opportunity to meet two different sets of riders. But its not just seeing the stars of the sport that is exciting the younger generation. All three also enjoy doing their share of betting at the windows. Spidle said the races are a little more exciting when those exactas hit, while Boyer keeps a notebook tracking all of her bets, percentages, and returns. So, in an era that is focused mostly on gaining fans through online means, this weekend was another reminder that there is nothing quite like the on-track experience to get young fans intrigued. "I do really love the horses, I love to get to see the horses," Spidle said. "Horses are definitely my passion. Before I was into racing, I was into horses. I was a little horse girl as a kid. The exactas when they hit are great, but even if I don't bet a race, I still have a lot of fun seeing it." "There's nothing like going to see a big day. I tell everyone that," Roseman said. "There's nothing like going to the Haskell, PA Derby, the Belmont, (Kentucky) Derby, Preakness. It's not only about the race but, as a fan, you get to see all the other premier races on the card." And perhaps there is an opportunity to be found in what Belmont and Parx accidentally created: an exciting weekend of high-level racing planned at two close racetracks rather than piling the tracks' big events onto the same Saturday. "It would be cool if Laurel had a big day, and then Parx had a big day, just to keep it local," Roseman said. "Fans like me would want to go to both days, see two different tracks, two different environments. It's really cool."