How come horse tracks aren`t age strict?

Question

from experience recently, although I do look somewhat old for my age (15 years old) i could never go to a convenience store and purchase lottery tickets, buy liquor go to a bingo hall etc. but for some reason everytime I go to the racetracks locally ( and the laws are 18+ to buy tickets ) i have never been questioned about age, never asked for ID, in fact I see kids who look like they are 12 walking up to the counter and placing bets, this is pretty much the case for all the racetracks i have been to locally (about 6 of them) why is this? and how come laws aren't picking up on this..

Answer 1

You know, that's a good question. I'm kind of against horse racing (young horses forced to gallop under saddle before their bones and joints are developed) so I generally stay away from the track.

I know at the BIG tracks in the cities, they check children/young people for i.d. But I didn't know they don't do that at other tracks.  

Answer 2

Since horse racing has been on the decline in the past 30 years, tracks want to "recruit" young people, as the majority of gamblers tend to be older in age. It's far more rare for a group of four 20 year old buddies to say "lets go to the track guys". It also plays into tracks marketing to promote their facilities as being "family friendly" which goes along with the decline of attendance at US tracks.

I'm not sure what the rules are now, as I have not been to a New England dog racing track in years, but in the early 1990's, dog racing tracks in Connecticut and Massachusetts only allowed 18 and over into the facility.  

Answer 3

Too busy buying donuts on sale.

Answer 4

Well, I haven't come across any kids placing wagers at my track.  There was one time that they did ask me if I was 18, but I had placed wagers before that and after that and no one said anything.

My guess is that the tracks are so in need of money that they'll take it from anyone.  They don't care if it's kids or not.  They figure it's the parents job to stop the kids from betting.  And if there's no police around at the track to enforce the age restrictions, then they can get away with it.  I'm guessing that some of the kids you saw betting were track kids... ones who live on the backstretch and their parents are jockeys or grooms or something like that.

Adding to what Tortuga said about the dog racing tracks... in the 1990s in Florida we went to a dog racing track and we had to get special permission before my dad could take me in to go to the bathroom because kids weren't allowed inside.  I don't know if that's still the policy either.

Answer 5

Well i have been to three tracks and at each of them i am usually one of the youngest besides the strappers and i'm 16 and if i wanted to place a bet i would just get my dad to do it for me, but i spend all of my time at the stalls anyway.