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All’s Fair In November
At Pompano Park

By Lou Musmeci  

       A few years back, during a track sojourn, I remember being quite confused when I arrived at Pompano Park. Remember, I’ve been to the track hundreds of times during my 20-plus years in South Florida, but this visit was different.
     First, there were glaring lights beaming

throughout the parking area. It’s normally illuminated in the area, but this was incredible.
     Next, I noticed a disproportionate number of kids running around with their parents. On regular visits, you see the occasional child with a parent or parents that probably couldn’t get a babysitter for post time, but here were seemingly thousands of kids laughing and enjoying themselves.
     I must have gotten lost. Instead of bearing straight, I made a right turn into a pleasantly crowded area. There I witnessed something I

had never seen — or thought I’d never seen.
     I was watching horses go round and round, but these were not your average standardbreds. These horses were going up and down and around and around. I noticed that there were no sulkies with drivers. There weren’t even numbers on the horses’ sides. Also, there wasn’t a tote board or a teller’s window in sight.
     More importantly, I noticed that these horses were plastic. Yes, I began my night at Pompano Park with a visit to the Broward County Fair. This year’s fair is Nov. 18-28.
     We usually go as a family — my wife and two older daughters — and have a great time. Normally a couple of hours go by before I even realize why I was there. I bid a fond adieu to the family at the rides and continue on over to catch some races. While this cannot be proven scientifically, I seem to have better nights wagering on fair nights. This is probably because I’m there for fewer races and am forced to go home with my winnings, instead of parlaying a fortune into a small fortune. So if you’re headed to the track on Nov. 18 and make a wrong turn and end up at the fair, say hello to the pretty pink plastic pony for me.
     I think she’s a winner.
     Fair hours: Thursday, Nov. 18, 5 p.m.-midnight; Friday, Nov. 19, 5 p.m.-midnight; Saturday, Nov. 20, noon-midnight; Sunday, Nov. 21, noon-midnight; Monday, Nov. 22, 5 p.m.-midnight; Tuesday, Nov. 23, 5 p.m.-midnight; Wednesday, Nov. 24, 5 p.m.-midnight; Thursday, Nov. 25, 5 p.m.-midnight; Friday, Nov. 26, noon-midnight; Saturday, Nov. 27, noon-midnight; Sunday, Nov. 28, noon-9 p.m.

Lou Musmeci is a freelance writer who lives in Margate. E-mail him at  musmeci@theparklander.com


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