Find your best bet at the San Joaquin Fair's horse races

"I pick the horses with the biggest head and the biggest butt," the Tracy resident said.

Grijalva said a horse with a bigger head means it can put its nose in closer to the finish line and a bigger behind shows its strength.

The San Joaquin Fair opened its horse racing field in 1933. Since then, die-hard racing fans and newbies have been filling the stands and placing their bets at the fair.

Betters can have their hand at the last few days of races. Horse racing continues today until Sunday's closing. Friday's races will start at 3:15 p.m. and the weekend's races kick off at 12:45 p.m.

At the entrance of the race track, Jan Reed sells "Nikki's Secrets," which she claims can guess which horses will win for the day. But for those who want to make a choice on their own, how do they choose which horse they're going to bet on and what kinds of wagers do the make?

"People usually bet on either the name of the horse, the look, the jockey, the owner or off the odds," said Kristin Finkel spokeswoman for California Authority of Racing Affairs.

Finkel said she comes from a family that has owned several race horses and has seen plenty of races all over California.

"The safest or best way to bet on a horse is 'to place'," she said. "It's the best bet for your money."

Gamblers check out the ponies in the bullpen before the race at the San Joaquin Fair. (Mike Graffigna/News-Sentinel)

The term, placing, means to bet on a horse to finish first or second. There are some other terms that betters should learn before they wager on horses, Finkel said.

An exacta or perfecta, for instance, is betting on horses to finish in first and second place, in the exact order the better places them. Another term is a trifecta, which is betting on horses to place first, second and third in that exact order.

Dan Troxel said he doesn't like to use the perfecta or trifecta because he's had more luck with a different type of betting.

"I use quinnella because it's easy. It covers first and second place," he said.

A quinnella is betting on horses to win first and second but they can place in either order.

Pete Estabrook, the racetrack bugler, announces the horses as the enter the track. (Mike Graffigna/News-Sentinel)

With 37 years of betting experience, the carpenter from Ceres doesn't take the game too seriously anymore. He said he sometimes picks the horses by their names. And for the past few years, he said he strictly goes to the San Joaquin Fair races even though he hasn't won too much money.

"It's my favorite fair," he said. "It's local and everyone's nice up here."

Martha Santos, who has been going to the races for 15 years, wished she placed a bet on Colonel Corn last Wednesday.

At 12:45 p.m., Sally Andreetta, of Manteca, was feeling jittery standing in front of the race track stands.

"My first horse is racing," she said.

Her sister, Sarah Quarasma came out to support her and her horse's first time racing.

The ponies charge down the stretch at the San Joaquin Fair on Wednesday. (Mike Graffigna/News-Sentinel)

"I came to make sure the horse is dressed nice for the race," she said jokingly.

Both sisters were soon jumping and running toward the finish line as Andreetta's first race horse crossed the finish line.

"I can't believe it, it's wonderful," she said when her horse, Colonel Corn, nosed in first at the finish line.

Santos said she didn't even place Colonel Corn in her bets, but will still continue betting throughout the week.

While some people bet based on names and odds, some people rely on good luck charms. Sharon Briggs wears her luck on her ears -- dangling silver horse earrings.

The vineyard owner in Clements said she doesn't spend too much money when she goes to races.

Fair at a glance

Where: 1658 South Airport Way, Stockton; between Airport and Charter Way.
When: Open until Sunday. Gates open at noon daily.
How much: Adults age 13 and older, $8; children ages 6-12, $5; children 5 and under free.
Parking: $5 all day
Carnival wristband: Unlimited usage on rides, minimum rider height 36 inches, good daily until 11 p.m., $25.

Free days: Seniors 55 and older, today; children 12 and under, Thursday.
Want to know more? Check out http://www.sanjoaquinfair.com.

"It's just fun to see live racing," she said. "I follow my husband to these. He usually reads the racing news before we go."

Natalie Touel, 18, bet on her first horse on Wednesday and won. She said she came to the fair just to witness her first horse races.

"I like it a lot," she said holding her racing program. "I won two out of three races."

Young or old, people of all ages have been betting at the races.

Manny Marino brought his son and mother to the fair and said he likes the fair's races because it's familyoriented.

The Stockton resident said he makes his bets based on the jockeys. He said he usually favors Mexican jockeys because he's also Mexican and has had luck with choosing them.

As Marino held his beer and sat back in a fold-out chair he brought himself, he said he's been looking forward to the fair's races for the past seven years.

"I like the culture," he said. "I'm a real animal lover and I like to see the beauty of the horses and the crowd -- this is its own little world."

Reader Feedback

Comments on this story are now closed.

Archives

Story Tools

Indexes