If there’s one thing that all race fans enjoy, it’s the ability to see what goes on behind the scenes. Whether it’s an auto race or a horse race, the paddock area is where the real action takes place.
During what is basically the offseason for professional motorsports, the Isle Casino and Racing Pompano Park becomes the winter home of the harness racing world. Hundreds of horses, pilots, and stable hands flock to the more than 50 year old facility where they compete on Mondays, Wednesdays, and most weekends from October through June.
The track has a storied history. In it’s heyday, the facility operated at full capacity, with grandstands overflowing with families enjoying one of the many sports of kings. Now, it is only a shadow of it’s former self, as the internet and other forms of entertainment have relegated it to a sidelight for the major casino operation located on the property.
On Christmas Day, my family and I were honored to be able to tour the stable area of what was founded in 1964 as Pompano Park. The tour was organized by the director of U.S. and European operations at HarnessLink.com, Steve Wolf, and conducted by one of the winningest pilots and owners in the sport, Wally Hennessey.
While there, we were given access to the race paddock, which is where all the horses and their drivers are setup hours before they take to the track. We also had a chance to see the starting gate, which is the ultimate place to watch the racing from.
The highlight of the tour was a visit to the Wally Hennessey barn, where we were able to take some photos with his horses, see the race bike and jogging cart, and pet one of the dozens of Hemingway cats who call the racetrack home.
At this time of year, when auto racing action is hard to come by, South Florida race fans should take a trip to the Isle Casino Pompano Park to see the true meaning of horsepower. Who knows? You might even make a few bucks!
For more information, visit their website at http://pompano-park.isleofcapricasinos.com//racing/racing-overview.html.
About Me: Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway almost 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of travelling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week. Adam has spent the last three years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.Be sure to tune in for his weekly sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.
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