I saw Druff's post about a dog track, so what the hell.
Crica 2006.
Dog Track New Tampa. There is is a highway from New Tampa to downtown Tampa and I went there. I moved there in 2006 (New Tampa) and lasted 8 months, LOL.
This dog track had a poker room and a seedy ass horse racing venue where they had TVs to bet on tracks, off track. It was the fucking worst. Like folding tables to sit, just awful.
I went to the place to grind at $1 and $2 and just got clobbered. I try and play tight, but I just got annihilated. Let me put it like this, I lost $400 where I had a A high flush and got housed on the river, it was one of those days. I went with $1,500 and got cleaned in less than two hours.
It was like 3pm, and there was a Chase bank across the street. I took $2,000 off my credit card when I busted. So rather than go back to the tables I went to the Horse book and began betting $100-$200 a race. I am telling you I did not hit ONE race. Not one. In less than 2 hours, I was busted, $3,500 down the tubes.
So I was walking out and my 6th sense kicked in. A Cop out the corner of my eye was watching me. I was drunk off my ass but it was 5pm and sunny outside. It was not like I was going to get into a fatality. He was staring big time and waved over a couple officers. Now granted, I was so tilted out of my mind, I could not even see straight. So I walked outside and the cops followed me. I get it, they thought I was going to hop in my car. But I just went to the BP and got some breath mints, like certs or something. I just walked right by them and they were all just staring. I was prepared to go ACLU if anyone grabbed me.
So the story ends uneventful. There was a Days Inn about a block away so I just walked there and ordered pizza and like 5am I walked back to my car and went home sober. Not a good day, likely one of my worst.
Not much of a trip report, but I would have been arrested if I had hopped in my car. Someone is always watching. Keep your wits about you always, every step of the way.