Monticello purses take significant drop........

[bello]

......will races be affected?

Monti is the ultimate nepotism and crony track. Same bunch racing against each other for decades including brothers, relatives and other family members.

Question is, is this an excuse for scumbaggery ( possibly even more) amongst the driving and trainer colonies. I have my suspicions about some which I have posted in the past. It with be an interesting watch.

[Harness racer]

Keep dropping the purses and the more suspicious races there will be.  Just like the "good old days" of $800 purses.

[bello]

Race 1   conveyor belt race..3-5 ex hammered late. 352 boat race out of the gate.

[kantseeback]

Next stop blankets instead of purse money.

[Harness racer]

Next stop blankets instead of purse money.

Those horsemen will need the blankets when they are sleeping under the overpasses on the highway!   

[Yonkers1A]

Its only going to get worse, the NYC Casinos will suck up all the Asian money that was being bet at the Resorsts Casino near Monti. I predict Monticello Raceway will close within 5 years

[rock old school]

Monticello is like a cockroach it will never die/or close.
Been saying about closing for over 30 yrs now.
the good old days 2500 claimers going 900

[bello]

Lineups galore yesterday...Horse s on rail finishing 1-2-3  rest dead.

Some horses expected to leave did not and were dead on the board.

[dougie]

I have been going to the "Mighty M" since I am 5 years old. I am 67 years old now. I was there last month. Got comped mid-week at the casino and spent a couple of afternoons watching the races. The glory days at Monte are long gone. I counted about 20 folks in the simulcast room with one teller open and about 30 folks trackside with one teller near some new metal seats installed to replace the now closed 2nd floor seats. The Catskills are still pretty and I have friends and family living there. But Main Street is depressed and poverty has taken root in many of the surrounding areas. A very sad sight to see. They still have the best bagels ever at the Monticello Bagel Factory. And a great breakfast at the Miss Monticello Diner. The racing at Monte those two days I was there was ok. A lot of chalk. I got lucky hitting a 9-1 shot. Sun was shining and it glistened off the track. Was kind of pretty. Brought back some great memories of an era that has passed into history.

[kantseeback]

I am around your age and I also have great memories in Monticello. I had a summer home in Mongaup valley from the 80's until 2000. I remember the area was still lively. I used to get bagels at that drive thru bagel place on the main drag in Monti. Saturday nights at the raceway with the infield fountain working between races and lit up in multicolor. A packed clubhouse and full private boxes. Fourth of July fireworks on the lawn of the raceway after a doubleheader day/night card with 14 races each. My daughters loved the putt putt golf on the 2nd floor and the arcade on the main floor. I think I gave them more money to play the arcade games than I did gambling. they asked me for a 20 every race or 2.
Sunday afternoons were great and that was back in the days when the resorts bused in crowds. Too many great memories.
Now its a dump.

[kantseeback]

Back in the day a friend of mine owned Strike King. At one time Strike King was competing in the high ranks at RR/YR but by the time he had the horse it was a cheap claimer gelding, he still won some races at Monti.

[dougie]

kantseeback.....w e have a lot of the same memories. When was the last time you were back?

[kantseeback]

kantseeback.....we have a lot of the same memories. When was the last time you were back?

I drove up there in 2002 just to take a peek around. The casino took up the first floor of the raceway and upstairs maybe there was 10 bettors or so. I walked into the top of the stretch lounge, but it was abandoned, and junk was strewn everywhere.
I drove by my former house and saw they painted it a different color.
The town was already starting to look shabby.
I always wondered what happened to that huge brass trophy that was in a trophy case near the rear entrance to the grandstand. It was the OTB Monticello classic trophy, it had a small plaque on it for each winner over the years, I remember Tijuana Taxi was on it.