Ring-a-ding-ding

In the old days race tracks were different. The tracks I went to then had a certain unsavory flavor, but like so much in this world, they have been sanitized. Ring-a-ding-ding is a long time gone.

The track I go to now is the new Arlington Park where big corporations entertain suburban families. Recently I attended the Arlington Million where under corporate sponsored tents I was given samples of Armani cologne, Redken shampoo and a magazine named Cargo, which was appropriate.

But later, up in the stands where we hadn't paid to sit but sat anyway, I got a little taste of the old days. An usher who was 70-plus was talking to a co-worker who looked to be fresh out of high school. The youngster was asking his elder if he'd caught sight of the B-grade starlet who was in attendance. The old timer grumbled, "I'll give ya two nipples for a dime."

Ring-a-ding-ding.