- Photos:
-
Horse racing is called the “Sport of Kings,” but you won’t find any royalty in a local OTB. Yep, off-track betting is just one of the two types of gambling that’s legal in New York, the other being cock fighting—uh, the lottery.
The New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation began operations in 1971. Currenlty, OTBs bring in more than $1 billion in bets a year through its 73 locations, mostly from middle-aged guys who remind you of the Joe Pesci character from “With Honors.” Honestly, they’re like a graveyard for beaten men. You won’t see women here…unless they are part of the world’s oldest profession.
New York is well aware of the perception of these places as sort of lowest denominator cesspools, and over the last few years they have been doing their best to “clean up” the operation. In fact, don’t be surprised if you start seeing the letters OTB popping up in your favorite sports bars. Until then, here’s a rundown of some of the different places you can lay down some bets with the city’s…more colorful characters.
THE CLASSIC
The Winner's Circle
This is the place you think of when you think “Off Track Betting,” or, as best described by Obi-Wan Kenobi in “Star Wars,” it’s the place where “you will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy."
I decided to go during the day to see what kind of crowd the Winner’s Circle can russle up at 2 p.m. on a Wednesday. After paying a $5 entry fee and getting my betting books, I went up a flight of stairs to the betting area—lo and behold, the place was completely full, from the monitor area to the bar stools. Every seat in front of the monitors was taken, as were all bar stools. A strong smell of B.O. wafted in the area.
I looked through my betting book to make a bet on the next race at one of the 50 tracks holding races concurrently, deciding on a $10 with some horse named Hawthorne. Unfortunately, there were so many TV sets I couldn’t find the race….but I could hear my horse’s name coming from somewhere. He finished sixth (boo), but I was shocked at how tomb-like it was in the main area during the race. There was no yelling “Come on 5!” or anything …just watching and waiting. Maybe everyone was drunk.
Going to the bathroom was the last thing I wanted to do, but I really had to go. Sure enough, The Winner’s Circle featured one of the world’s worst bathrooms--there were betting slips everywhere, mysterious liquids all over the floor, and some guy in a stall next to me either dying or going through some intense grunting exercise.
That was enough for me. On the way out I ran into a man engaged in a screaming match with a woman (the only one in the place) who worked there on whose pen it was she was holding. He was really sure it was his; I didn’t stay to find out the truth. (515 Seventh Ave. at 38th St., 212-730-4900)
THE NEW BREED
Playwright Irish Pub
To protect casual gamblers from the “professional” ones that haunt the regular OTB parlors, NYC has decided to start putting betting kiosks in some bars around Manhattan. Currently Playwright is the only Manhattan bar with on-premise wagering, featuring a manned window and electronic terminals on the second floor.
So instead of living in fear of getting shanked, you can watch the race on a 50-inch flat screen while drinking a Yuengling, or choosing from a selection of single malt scotches, small batch bourbon and port. You can also grab a table, each of which has an individual flat screen, and nosh on some Irish, American or Continental cuisine while betting. Honestly, you won’t find a better gambling situation even if you were at the track itself.
A glass of Scotch and a few races in, I couldn’t see why I would ever go any other bar…until I realized I could only afford one glass of Scotch, since I had lost the rest of my money betting on terrible horses that should be shot on the track (I kid, I kid). Some of the suits here eating lunch, however, seemed to be having better luck. (27 W 35th St, between 5th and 6th Aves., 212-268-8526)
THE OUTER BOROUGH
The Fiddler’s Elbow
If you find yourself deeeeeep in the Bronx, you can hit up The Fiddler's Elbow, a traditional tavern that specializes in steaks, Italian food and businessman lunch specials (they also make a great burger). Besides OTB action, the Fiddler offers up live bands on the weekend, and even feature a pretty outdoor deck. In many ways the horse betting is just a side note…which means you’ll rarely run into any scary gambling lifers here.. (3718 East Tremont Ave., Throggs Neck, The Bronx, 718-863-3990)
FINE DINING
Hunter’s Steak & Ale House/Il Fornetto
Fine dining and horse racing--surely you jest! We do not joke on matters such as these, my friend. Hunter’s Steak & Ale House is a classic steakhouse featuring high-end variations on the usual filet mignon, porterhouse, T-bone and New York sirloin steaks. The Horse and Jockey Club is the separate betting room that allows you to play the ponys while enjoying your $30 slab of meat. If you are going to take a date to Hunter’s, you might not want to sit at a table with a TV on it….but that might just be me. (9404 4th Ave., Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, 718-238-8899)
If Italian is more your speed, Il Fornetto may be the place for your dining and gambling pleasure. A wood-fire brick oven is the centerpiece of the restaurant, but their 35 LCD TVs throughout the restaurant sure distract some of the attention. In the Saratoga Room (how clever!) some of the tables have TVs on the tables. You can dine on the outdoor deck with a great view of Sheepshead Bay…or, at least, someone told me it was great. I mentioned the 35 LCD TVs, right? (2902 Emmons Ave., Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, 718-332-8494)
On a closing note, the New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation has started to offer betting via the Internet on nycotb.com. So not only do you not have to go to a race track to bet, you don’t even have to leave your house.
