A Newbie’s Guide to Remington Park

By Avery Oden

Guest Blogger

For anybody who has never experienced the heart-thumping, eye-widening, breath-stopping excitement that Remington Park’s horse races deliver every week: you’re missing out.

The way the crowd cheers when the bells ring and the doors bust open, the way they shout with joy and frustration when the horses blast through the finish line, and the rush of adrenaline from being close enough to smell the grain on the horses’ breath is more than enough to turn another Thursday evening into a night to remember.

As the sun begins to set, friendly and familiar crowds from young to old gather to catch up, have some drinks, and place some bets. As a first timer, I didn’t know enough to put any money on the line, but that didn’t stop me from thoroughly enjoying every last minute.

At first it’s a little overwhelming, but I quickly found out that there are plenty of helpful, talkative folks that are more than willing to take some time and show me the ropes. The racing fans here certainly are their own breed(no pun intended), and it’s clear that they’re here for one reason. They don’t care about the slot machines, the bars, or the live music. They’re here for the love of the race.

“See, those numbers there are the odds, and those ones represent the different riders,” one man explained to me. “Even if you’re not betting, it’s still fun to watch an underdog take the race at the last second, or to see a tight finish between the frontrunners.”

But to me, it’s not even about the betting or the odds. It’s not about the statistics or the money. I learned tonight that it’s about having a great time and admiring the raw power of these animals while they burn down the track, displaying an entrancing combination of grace, authority, and determination. It’s really quite a show, and entirely free. No tickets, wristbands, or minimum bets required to go out and enjoy an evening at the races.

Take a step inside to the casino floor though, and things change. An atmosphere of intent attention and focus turns into smiling faces, flashing lights, andexcitement. People dancing to the live music of the Mack Band playing over the whole casino floor while the beers flow and the coins drop. Thursday nights are ladies nights here at Remington, with $1 beers from 6 – 9 pm.

The wafting smell of crab legs then brought me into the Bricktown Brewery, where nearly every table was full of folks spending their winnings on a champions dinner of craft beer, seafood, steaks, and burgers. There’s even a viewing area connected to the restaurant where you can sit along the enormous windows overlooking the horsetrack, so you can enjoy the thrill of the races with the taste of Bricktown’s own microbrews.

So whether you’re in it for the money, the thrill, or the fun, Thursdays at Remington are most definitely a safe bet. And if you’ve never been to the races, there is just no excuse not to experience it for yourself. Even if you’re a newbie like me, it’s still a great way to turn another boring weeknight into a night to remember.

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