3/5 Adriana R. 2 years ago on Google
We
have
come
here
regularly
for
almost
20
years
for
the
Florida
Derby
(except
in
the
last
2
years
because
of
the
pandemic)
and
I
have
loved
seeing
this
place
transforming/growing
from
a
“simple”
horseracing
track
to
a
very
beautiful
complex
that
also
includes
stores
and
restaurants/bars.
However,
this
year
I
was
very
disappointed.
Almost
all
the
restaurants
are
gone:
we
used
to
“take
cover”
in
them
from
the
very
hot
weather
(the
bartender
at
the
Cantina
Laredo
always
remembered
us
even
if
he
was
seeing
us
only
once
a
year!)
The
entry
to
the
derby
is
no
longer
free,
and
the
cheapest
tickets
are
still
rather
expensive
(same
for
the
valet,
which
we
never
used
anyways:
$50?!?)
We
also
had
to
go
through
a
metal
detector
and
a
very
accurate
bag
search,
which
I
think
was
a
good
idea
considering
the
times
we
currently
live
in.
Our
seats
were
in
the
Silk
section.
It
was
the
first
time
we
reserved
those
seats:
they
are
very
comfortable,
and
the
little
desks
in
front
of
them
are
actually
very
spacious.
When
we
arrived
there
was
nobody
who
would
help
to
find
the
seats,
but
there
was
actually
only
one
person
taking
care
of
that
section:
when
she
came
back
from
her
lunch,
she
apologized,
was
very
polite,
cleaned
the
desks
and
gave
us
a
bracelet
to
wear
(as
a
proof
of
reservation/payment).
Our
seats
in
particular
were
close
to
the
exit
to
the
track,
so
we
didn’t
have
to
pass
through
a
lot
of
people
to
go
out
to
watch
the
races.
However,
probably
because
they
were
so
close
to
the
exit,
every
time
we
came
back
to
the
room,
we
would
find
them
occupied,
although
there
is
a
pretty
big
sign
at
the
entrance
of
the
section
indicating
that
you
need
to
have
a
reservation
to
sit
there.
There
was
actually
an
employee
guarding
the
entrance,
so
I
don’t
understand
why
they
wouldn’t
check
if
the
people
going
in
I
had
the
bracelet…
Also,
there
was
a
group
of
friends
that
decided
to
sit
for
the
entire
event
by
one
wagering
machine,
as
if
it
belonged
to
them
only:
I
found
it
odd
that
nobody
would
ask
them
to
move
away
from
there
and
“free
up”
one
machine
so
that
everybody
else
could
use
it
(I
guess
you
could
still
use
it,
but
who
would
bet
with
people
standing
close
to
you
by
your
side?)
It
was
also
the
first
time
at
the
Derby
that
the
place
wasn’t
very
crowded,
however,
I
can’t
say
that’s
a
bad
thing:
it
was
much
easier
to
enjoy
the
races
from
the
track.
Anyways,
we
enjoyed
our
seats
so
much
that
we
are
planning
to
book
them
again
next
year
(unless
the
prices
increase
too
much).
Hopefully
by
that
time,
the
rest
of
the
complex
will
be
also
filled
again
with
restaurants
and
bars!