Saw Tom Durkin being interviewed on NBC Saturday during the golf on a very fortuitous for Racing rain delay. Durkin was doing a little promoting of The Big Day coming and made mention of the fact that when Secretariat posted his momentus victory there were 67,000 people in attendance, Saturday they are expecting something TWICE that.

Last week I had told a friend of mine as we were firming up plans for ourselves that I was predicting ALL KINDS OF RECORDS BEING BROKEN. Viewer Ship, Head-Count, handle, eyeballs, clicks, pops you name it.

After hearing Durkin I’m convinced I’m right and am becoming increasingly concerned that Racing itself will not be up for the task. This is the two donut sport as in when the Track General Mgr says, “What kind of day was it today”? The help respond, “A good day only two Dunkin Donuts were left in the grandstand refreshments tray”. Somewhere out there you can actually envision some Track Mgmt saying,”If we run out everything by the fifth race we can send all the help home and make out like bandits, both a good sales day and cut our labor cost in half.”

Wagering may resemble the verse from the hit Eagles song Hotel California, “You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave.” How about as in, “You can stand in line all day, but you can never get down.” There are going to be firstime starters all over the place who are going to be bringing bets out for everyone ranging from Granny and Jed Clampett, to Aunt Bea and Maude. Or even worse Maude is directly in front of you at the window when you hear Tom Durkin utter the words, “One More to Load”.

These comments are by no means restricted to Belmont Park; this is applicable to every wagering outlet in the country. I went to the Program Stand at Churchill Downs on Ky Oaks Day and the women barked, “We’re SOLD OUT go stand in line down at the other stand”. They had only run three races so far that day.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL. Put the best, most helpful, smiling face on that you have ever had Racing. You will be amazed at the results.

This could be the Second Biggest Sporting Event Day of the Year behind only the Super Bowl. I don’t think anyone really knows how big this day COULD POSSIBLY BE and Racing always has a tendency to underestimate and go cheap. Don’t be stupid BET ON YOURSELF. Even if it means you lose a few bucks, take it from the advertising budget if you have too. People will come back if they have a good time.

I advise anyone who is thinking of going TO GO, if Smarty wins you will want to say you were watching and wagering. There really is no greater fun, and in every race you have a home team if you know what I mean. This day might be as rare as seeing Haley’s Comet.