It was always a good day at the races

IN 1982, there was a wonderful documentary film about the Weavers, the blacklisted folk singers, subtitled, "Wasn't That a Time!" Wistful California racetrack operators could use the same words to describe the so-called golden age of horse racing, which had an incredibly long run, arguably until the 1980s, before the start of a downward spiral that grips the sport still.

By Bill Christine

March 30, 2006