AND THEY'RE OFF!

 
      MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH., 2020
                   AND THEY'RE OFF!

         Long before the Mohegan Sun Casino
    brought crowds to Plains Township the
    horse racing track at Pocono Downs was
    a big attraction in my neighborhood. I
    live just about a mile from the track.
          Originally the small track featured
     thoroughbred racing. You know, "where
     the jockeys sit down right on the horse"
     as offered in the musical "The Music
     Man."
           I earned a county deputy sheriff's
     badge when I stopped on my way to
     work one morning to help round up
     several horses that had bolted from the
     stable and were disrupting traffic along
     Route 315. I didn't even have a lasso!
     It took awhile but we did get all the
     horses back to the corral!
           Eventually the track became
     exclusive to Harness Racing.
            I'm not a gambler but my wife and
     I have both enjoyed an occasional
     evening at the track, having dinner
     and testing my system of putting two
     dollars on the number three horse "to
     show." I'll need more data before
     making a final decision.
               Several "horsemen" from the
     track rent mobile homes not far from
    mine. They and the track itself have
    been good neighbors and continue
    to contribute to the local economy.
                Racing started earlier than
    usual this year and between the
    track and the casino we've got
    plenty of visitors in Plains Township.
                 I'm a bit old for a roundup
    though so I hope all the stables are
    locked, the season is great, and all your
   NEWS is good!