11 months ago
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FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - October equine races kicked disconnected astatine the Big Fresno Fair Friday, attracting fans from each implicit the state.
The just has hosted racing since 1884, and immoderate similar long-time container spot holder Ed O’Neal accidental the excitement ne'er gets old.
“I deliberation there’s thing similar watching the existent race. You tin stake connected the internet, but it’s overmuch amended to ticker it live… I’m ever concentrating connected who’s gonna win,” O’Neal said.
720 horses are racing successful Fresno this year, but lone immoderate tin beryllium winning bets.
Robbie Rodriguez sets up a basal extracurricular the contention each twelvemonth to merchantability his winning picks.
“I bash it for the radical that don't cognize thing astir racing due to the fact that it's specified a phenomenal athletics that I love. I mean, you know, the equine athletes, the jockeys, the trainers that person their teams,” Rodriguez said.
He works to marque fans wealth but says that’s not what the athletics is each about.
He says equine racing is astir strategy, hazard and being invested arsenic a fan.
“It’s thing unique, thing antithetic that, you know, you're going out, you ticker a beauteous carnal and you ticker astonishing competition,” Racing Director Larry Swartzlander said.
This year, Fresno fans volition person doubly arsenic agelong to bask the sport.
The just doubled its racing play from 7 days to 14 days.
“You conscionable consciousness energy successful the air. We ever person a bully time. I cognize it's going to beryllium a large day… I’m enthused,” Swartzlander said.
Races proceed Oct. 4 to Oct. 6 and Oct.11 to Oct. 14.
Swartzlander says helium looks guardant to seeing each grin and proceeding each cheer arsenic horses contention toward the winner's circle.
