My (much more positive) review from 3 weeks ago is below. Attended the same Terrace Club on a Friday Night on "T-Shirt night", and had a not so good experience. $7 entry fee gets you a free Tshirt that for the rest of the season-- if you wear it on any Friday night-- you get in for free. Well, I'll have to wear it on my HEAD, I guess. IT IS TOO FREAKING SMALL! We arrived sort of early, at 6pm. They were OUT of XL and 2XL T-shirts... Large was the biggest. Sorry, but that does not cut it. This is the same thing that happened last year. WHY DOESN'T SOMEONE AT EMERALD DOWNS REALIZE THAT THEY NEED TO ORDER MORE XL AND 2XL SHIRTS?????????? How annoying to get a free shirt that I AM UNABLE TO WEAR. We had a table and the service was HORRIBLE. They were grossly understaffed. It took 45 min. to an hour to get a waiter at all. He brought drinks, then we did not see him for another HOUR. When he did reappear, the two people having Cokes asked for a refill. They never got their refill for 1 more hour. We ordered dinner, and it took 45 minutes to arrive. I asked for ketchup for my fries. Didn't come. I then flagged down two servers and aske TWO additional times-- and NEVER got the ketchup. I never got the second beer I ordered..... had to get up and go to a bar, and wait in line 10 minutes to buy it myself. Waiter had a crappy attitude, he was not in the slightest apolgetic at the poor service. I am ticked off at not getting a Tshirt that I can actually wear (WHY can't they order larger sizes???????) and at the horrible service. So screw the T-shirt-- I dont think we will be back on a Friday night, or maybe ever. Very BAD BAD BAD experience. Really turned us off to the place! So I guess we will go gamble at a Casino.... the service was the WORST ever! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Okay, first of all, after all these years, I am still mourning the loss of the fabulous Longacres Race Track that served the Seattle area for 50 or so years. I really miss the unique charm, history, and atmosphere of that place. That being said, Emerald Downs is not a bad place. All shiny new, modern, not much charm or old world decor. But clean and neat is not a bad thing. I went to the track on a Friday night with 6 friends. We reserved a table in the Terrace Club, and had a great time. We had a table on the top level, looking down on the other levels, right at the finish line (with a great view of all the horses I bet on that came in LAST! I couldn't pick a winner to save my life, but some of my friends cashed tickets). Each table has a Television monitor, so can watch the race close up there too. The area also has tons of TV screens set to other tracks/races, Betting windows close by. We all had a couple drinks and dinner. One friend proclaimed his cheeseburger "the best burger I've ever eaten!". Two of us split an Asian appetizer plate, it was fabulous! It included marinated Asian noodles, grilled skewers of Teriyaki chicken, BBQ pork, and Potstickers. Really worth the $10 price and excellent. Two others had the prime rib dinner, and said it was very good, and another's club sandwich was rated "pretty good". Service was a little bit spotty. Our waiter was very nice and charming, but didn't bring all our orders on a timely basis. One minute he brought beers lickety split-- the next he had to be reminded that we had placed an order 15 minutes ago. But he was pleasant, and I think there was some kind of problem in the kitchen that night affecting service. A really fun evening, in a pleasant spot. Parking at the track is free, but usually since you are so far from the clubhouse, you need to wait for the free shuttle buses. They do run frequently, so no problem. I used the handicapped parking and it was fine. There is a nice gift shop on premises, and staff overall is very friendly and helpful. read more

Ive lived in WA for over 10 years and never went to emerald down and finally this year for my birthday i brought 8 adults with me .. it was just terrible .. at the Rainier restaurant half of our orders didnt even make it to the table and the other half was cold,dry,bland.. we got there around 6 and their prime ribs were already sold out . The mongolian beef didnt taste like mongolian beef, the salmon dish was dry and cold. Was not what i expected from here.. very disappointed in our first time experience.. when we brought it to the manager she gave us free entry tickets .. we are military we get in for free and for 2 meals i paid for that was over 50 dollars and to be given a 9 dollar entry ticket is pathetic. Soooo disappointed because i gave this place a chance even after reading bad reviews .. SHOULDNT HAVE! .. read more

They have great music, but a German bar head who makes it miserable for guests . I've watched her make her employees cry. 3 times now. Don't know how she keeps her job!!! read more

Came here like 5 times this past season. I'm not too sure why, considering I don't gamble. (But i did throw a couple buck away just for the heck of doing it.) Great place for the experience and what a view! It was something fun, outdoorsy, and different to do... or just another excuse to start drinking at 2pm on a Sunday. It's fun to watch the horsies so their thing. I like to go down to the paddock right before the race begins to watch the keepers prep the horses and jockeys hop on. The attendant on the second floor where the "first timers infomation" are not very helpful. Nor are any of the the attendants in general. But their bathrooms are clean! HAH! The food is pretty standard for sporting events. Pretty greasey and fatty and overpriced for what it is. IMO your best bet are the nachos on the 3rd floor. (Not that they are healthy or anything.) read more

So, I've never actually been to Emerald Downs to bet on horses. I actually don't even like the idea. But, I had a work meeting here in the event space so I was "forced" to go. I thought that the chairs were very comfortable and the AV equipment was excellent. Its a hard room to light and hear - but the staff made it happen. The best part of ED is the catering. They don't skimp on the cream - to say the least. However, both the salad and the rolls were excellent and surprisingly there were vegetarian options that were quite good! UPDATE! August 2007: I recently attended the Weiner Dog Races as part of the Longacres Mile festivities. It was SO MUCH FUN! Drinks were strong ($7.50 for a margarita and a keepsake glass) and fun, the food was reasonable and the races were really fun to watch. I also had my day-camp kids participate in a FREE field trip here - it was great. Our tour guide was beyond knowledgeable and we were able to spend time at the Vet Hospital. It was fantastic. I recommend it to all! read more

I went to the Redhook Club with 3 other people. The antipasto appetizer platter is amazing! Mozzerella Balls, Salami, pickled peppers, pickled artichokes, aamazing sprea, and carrots. My ribeye was one of the tastiest even though it was served medium well when I asked for medium. The rice pilaf was perfect and the asparagus were very high quality (I'm picky about my veggies). My friend order the salad and it was humongous and very scrumptious looking. Valet is very well organized, great layout of the facilities (elevators and bathrooms are easy to find or access), staff was very attentative, betting machines were very convenient, great view, clean and delicious food! read more

Went there on Saturday, it was my first time ever. Got free admission, chips, soda and program from Costco Day. Did I say it was free? We parked at the Free General parking area, it's a bit of walking but they offer free shuttle that take you to the main gate. Saw few people at the gates giving out Costco Day's free tickets. (Love Costco). Each race is about 30 min apart, you can spend some time viewing the horses right before you place your bids. They don't take credit cards, so make sure you have cash with you. Some machine takes $5-$100. Some only take $20. Make sure you hit "Finish" so you can get the ticket for the remaining balance. Or you can buy it from the cashiers, line is much longer because people cashing the winning. Since I get free tickets for Costco Day every year, I will come back next year for sure! Good to see some friends there as well. read more

So much fun! This a beautiful space in which to enjoy a little live horse racing. Lots of seating both indoor and out. Lots of food and drink options spread throughout the facility. There are instructional signs and plenty of helpful people to assist you with the betting process if this is your first experience. Free parking is available at the further most lot. Close parking and valet parking is available for a fee. There is an admission fee for adults, but children are free. Great choice for a fun afternoon! read more

This place really is horrible. Bare minimum staff all computers and most of them not working. Rude patrons as well as staff no fun at all don't take kids there in general nothing for them to do not family friendly BIG BIG waste of money and time read more

I love to come spend a day at the races. I usually come several times a month to EMD.Yesterday I took my Father out to EMD for Father's Day. The track was sloppy (lol, literally fit for mud wrestling) but we stayed dry under the eaves at the grandstand. OK here are some tips to enjoying EMD. 1. A day at the races can be pricey or cheap so if you want to save money for the pony bets get yourself a EMD rewards card so you can enter for 5.00 pp for adults. Thursdays have a senior special also. 2. Save money on food by eating at the Quarter Chute Cafe before entering the track. Track food prices tend to be marked up too much. *But the garlic fries and the carved meat sandwiches on the track level (south side of grandstand) are yummy. Another way to save on food and beverages is to bring your own food and such in. *No alcohol and bottles/cans must be in unopened/closed containers--- security checks the stuff you pack in for contraband. 3. If you want to reserve a grandstand seat it costs extra. And on popular days the extra charges are higher (10.00 a seat for the grandstand on Father's Day for instance). Grrr! Only 2.50-3.50 on regular meet days. 4. To save money on parking pass up the pay lots and use the free lots further north and catch the shuttle bus or tram for free. Less walking and the shuttles come by the stops every few minutes so there is no need to pay for 7.00 or more to park. 5. To avoid long lines learn to use the betting vouchers and autototes. 6. Bring in money, don't use the atms at the track because it is a 3.50 fee to use the track atm. Grrr! I usually get a 20.00 voucher and I am good for a day at the races. 7. Bet only what you are willing to lose and you won't go home with your pockets too empty and you unhappy. Learn to handicap the horses by reading up on handicapping tips in books from the library and sites on the net. BTW if you have small children steer them away from the tables/tv areas where the heavy gamblers hang out. The bad langague and other foul behaviors are unsuitable in these area. There are family activities at the north end of the track including jumping house, face painting, pony rides etc etc. read more

Great time racing the Lamborghini at motor sports in the Emerald down parking lot. Bought on Groupon a d save hundreds of dollars. I would do it again for $99 read more

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Had a great time here! Clean facilities, nice staff, plenty of food choices. Indoor & outdoor seating.

The concession stand employees were horribly inattentive and unhelpful. They skipped my order and when I asked they told me to wait until after they made a line of 8 other orders. Ruined my experience, won't recommend this place to anyone. read more

This is my hide out when I'm home in Washington. Great place to watch the horses and get to know great people. My parents have been coming here for years. The horse owners are great to get to know. You can actually get in a buy stock in the horses and help out the owners. This is not a huge money maker but if you are a horse fanatic it's nice to be behind the scenes. Made friends with some of the Jockeys and even help with the trainers and groomers feed and brush the horses. They really are taken care of and alot of love goes into them. I have seen first hand how these horse respond to people Good and bad. But nothing is more spectacular then watching a horse you bonded with win. Especially when the come back all cocky. Yes they know when they win and they like to show it off. Lol. Have a blast! read more

We come once every summer the last few years and it's always a great time. I really don't know much about racing but kinda just figure it out as we go along. We always get a deal like on Amazon which comes with the booklet and some comps for drinks/food. I think everything is decently priced for what it is and it's really fun to watch the horses race. I recommend just going up to the very front and watching them up close. Parking can be a bit of a pain but last time I came I was super pregnant so we valet'ed it and I thought it was reasonable. read more

Concession were terribly managed and slow, every where, 30 min for nachos!?! The elevator was terribly slow and PACKED. We chose to carry our baby stroller up and down the stairs because waiting for the elevator was ridiculous. Even though ED closes at 7pm the restaurants (3rd floor) kitchen stops cooking at 5:30pm so they won't seat you to eat if it's near 5:30; wish I would have seen that online. Otherwise the races and events were fun for the whole family. If you are only going for that and don't plan to eat or drink you'll have a good time! read more

Fun, fun, fun!!! Went on Saturday afternoon and what a great way to have fun! Took a bunch of previous Yelper's advice (like driving past the pay parking lots) and couldn't think of better way to spend $50. Admission and program costs were very reasonable. Concessions, including beer, a little on the high side, but comparing it to Qwest Field events, it wasn't bad. Go for the Pound of Fries and the Corn Dog and you'll only shell out $6. Went along with our son, his wife and our infant grandson and as long as you didn't stray into the smoking areas, it was actually very kid-friendly. The view of Rainier was Knock Your Sox Off on Saturday, too! read more

I attended Emerald Downs upon purchasing a $5 Groupon that provided free admittance, a free program, and $10 worth of food. The food selection at the race track is your typical choice of burgers and fries...nothing fancy. Regular admission is $7 for adults and free for all children 17 and under. Parking is free if you do not mind walking quite a distance to the front gate. They also offer $7 parking and $10 for valet parking. The weather is awesome during the summer so the horse tracks is a perfect getaway to enjoy the outdoors and do a little gambling. I attended with my nephew and my father and everyone had a great time. I was able to show my nephew all the nuances of analyzing the program prior to placing a bet. For a 12-year old, he did fairly well in predicting/picking the winning horses. We were there on a Saturday, the first of eight races started at 2pm and the last race ended at approximately 6:45pm. It was a great time for all who attended. The perfect weather and the outdoor seating also added to the excitement. read more

Nice track, clean and a nice crowd. Pretty good field of horses and free for military w I'd, active duty or retired. Lots of families, couples, a good time in the sun or shade. read more

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I've been here many times. A lot of food choices and simulcasting of other tracks. There's also a wide selection of drinks. If you join the Emerald Rewards Club you can get points every time you wager on races. And you get a 10% discount whenever you shop at The Gift Horse. The Gift Horse has a lot of Emerald Downs-related apparel, books, and some DVDs. I never have any trouble finding what I need in here. If you have kids, this is a good place to bring them. Overall, I think this is a wonderful facility! read more

Love Emerald Downs. Going for my second time this weekend with a whole crew from work and can't wait. First time was a blast. We sat in the boxes on the 5th floor. Nice padded seats, TV for watching the horses before they turn the final corner..which by this time everyone starts yelling and causing a ruckus (which is the entire point of going). And of course, screaming like a mad man when you wish $$Cash Money$$. CHA-CHING !! It's like that song that goes....you know the one..."I got little change in my pocket going JINGA LING ALING!!! " Except, it's whole lot of change. Clearing 170 bucks on one race gets the blood pumping. And having your winning horse on another race get disqualified for a big pay out does the same :( It's great excitement all the way around !! The facility serves a wide array of foods. And if you have a small group, you can get a catered buffet to your liking. Bars are quick and easy, no long lines or hassles. Everyone there is very friendly and helpful to make your time there enjoyable. read more

Emerald Downs is a fun place to spend a summer day with family or friends. I have not been to many horse tracks, but it seems to be a nice one. The parking is easy and relatively cheap or free, and the grounds were well maintained. The facilities are clean and the viewing is great. Even from inside, you can still see most of the track. There was a good selection of food, although most of what I saw was "ballpark" food. I had a hot turkey sandwich that was awesome. They sliced the meat right in front of you by hand, and they pack it onto your sandwich. I also had the garlic fries, which were really good as well. The garlic wasn't overwhelming, but you could still actually taste it. Overall, Emerald Downs is a great place to spend time and place a few bets. They make it really easy for you if it is your first time at a track with lots of information on how to pick horses and place bets, but they also tend to the people who are more serious about horse racing. Also, it seems that there are quite a bit of promotional events put on here by local radio stations and other businesses. Fun time. read more

Love the open space, ergonomic variety, diverse group of people, and age groups, and of course, the horses! Fun to walk, sit, and cheer outside w/great weather at a nice venue. First came here for the inaugural Breds & Brews Festival (2013), and I'm happy that racing season has begun again. read more

I went on a Saturday night to hear their Tribute bands. American Fool and Petty Thief were playing (awesomeness.). The servers and staff at the casino were super attentive and friendly. The drinks were pricey-$11 for so so wine by the glass. The food was generously portioned but bland in flavor. Fun dance floor and lots of security visible, I may go back. read more

Personally I thought this was a great place to be physically because seeing it on tv, is different than seeing it in its entirety. The race was amazing up close and pretty cool to see. Though the horses seemed a bit tired, I know they're in good hands. Trained to run. I thought it was great to see the riders too up close and say hello etc. Overall a great experience thanks to my friend for taking me etc. read more

Emerald Downs - Have seen this on tv but ac tually being there for the first time in person was amazing thanks to friends! :) - Horse Racing Near Me - Auburn, Washington

Emerald Downs is really a great time for EVERYONE! You can bring children too. My folks brought me to the track as a kid and I had a lot of fun watching the horses and helping my folks pick a winner. You don't have to have experience to learn how to place bets and it isn't super expensive unless you want it to be. You'll likely spend more money on food and drinks than on the horses! Friday afternoons are a great way to unwind after work with a few friends. read more

Emerald Downs - Gorgeous day at the track! - Horse Racing Near Me - Auburn, Washington

I came here last year for the Longacres Race and had a great time. As a result, we came this weekend for the boyfriend's superfecta birthday extravaganza. We reserved seats in the clubhouse, which was perfect because it was raining today and it was nice to have seats inside. We had a lot of fun here...although we did have a run in at the concession stand. We had friends who were visiting from Oregon and they weren't allowed to get beer because there was a 'change of address" sticker on their license and the manager wouldn't accept it. Apparently the book doesn't show stickers on the license and therefore it's not allowed. Weird. Other than that though we had a blast. The ticket people were kind to me as I stumbled about trying to make my bets. My friends also stopped by the "learn how to bet" section and said the man there was really helpful. Good time at the tracks. :) read more

I am not a race fan so consider that in my review. First of all they appear to have Limited handicap parking - we were fairly early and they were all filled. We paid extra to go into what appeared to be a close up lot only to find most of it was for the valet parking. Our daughter paid a lot less further down - grabbed the track bus and beat us both coming and going - first rip off. Next - I am use to races where they announce who is in the lead and make it exciting. The first few races were at the most 2 blocks long - really - I could almost run that. If that is a training race - why have so many and why do it on a holiday Very disappointing. We were there for Fathers day in the only other times I have been there was on holidays. It seems like they had more activities for the kids in the past - virtually nothing for them to do - remember it was Fathers day. The time between races seems long - I would think they could get more organized and move the races along but I am not a race fan - so perhaps I am missing something. read more

So much family fun!! We had a blast placing small bets and having a long lunch. Half price bottles of wine on Sunday's plus great service and food. Sit upstairs near the window with your own TV! Seriously this place is awesome, my kids loved it too. read more

Okay, for starters, I know nothing about horse racing and won't pretend to. That being said, I have heard such awesome things about Emerald downs. I got tickets for free and decided eh, why not check it off the bucket list/yelp list. The facility itself is nice, clean and well kept. Staff is friendly. We came during food truck weekend., When we got there it was not packed but became that way quickly. I know nothing about betting on horses and honestly what little I did see, it didn't seem like the payouts were that good on what I would be wagering so I decided to not. The track is nice and the racing was cool to watch. It is family friendly and I like that they have designated areas for smoking that are away from people. read more

Today I went to watch the horses races. Within the first four races 2 horses were killed due to injuries. What is even worse is that they pretended like nothing happened and kept going without acknowledging it to everyone. The beer was literally the worst but they do have good margaritas! I really hope that horses aren't dying like this everyday. Very upsetting my aunt and grandma cried. read more

Fun! I went to the corgi races and had a blast. The website and transportation to and from the stadium need work though. I highly recommend reserving a table ahead of time though so you can watch in air conditioning. It gets HOT. Also the food there tastes good but is over priced. read more

Worst racetrack I have ever been to. Not only is the atmosphere impersonal and tacky - but the food is overpriced (moreso than usual) and the service is horrendous. read more

I'm not a gambling woman, but I'm willing to bet you'll have a good time at Emerald Downs. I mean, how could you not have a good time counting mullets? Oh, and betting on pretty little ponies, too. I visited this weekend for a friend's birthday festivities and it so happened to fall on the same day at the Kentucky Derby. If you wore a "derby themed or fancy hat," your admission was free. People took this hat shizz seriously! I, on the other hand, wrapped polyester, flower leis around my head and called it good. Minimum bets are at $2, so you don't have to spend a fortune to add a little excitement to watching horses run in a circle. Come with cash, though. There are ATMs, but the surcharge is a ridiculous $3.00, which sucks. Since the sun and Seattle aren't bff's or anything, I was happy to find out that a majority of the seating is under cover. So on those rainy days or if you don't want a sunburn, pull up a chair under the roof. Although, I should say that we arrived nearly two hours before the first race and ALL of the tables were already taken. So get there early! There are shuttles to various parking lots. We parked in the lot closest to the tracks and it cost 7 bones. So, prepare to pony up (see what I did there?!). Auburn isn't that far of a drive, so get out of the city, bet on some ponies, and eat some cheap food. Yeehar! read more

I have been going to Emerald Downs on July 3rd for the past seven years. The facility and the employees handle the huge crowd relatively well. I usually go about 8 other times during the racing season. I have a few issues I'd like to address with fellow reviewers and customers of Emerald Downs. 1) Parking, there is free parking the farther north you drive along Emerald Downs Drive. There are shuttles running every 10-15 minutes that take you to and from the track. They literally drop you off in front of the entrance gates. STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT THE PRICE OF PARKING WHEN IT IS OFFERED FOR FREE. 2) The food being basic/fatten/not vegan/expensive. Emerald Downs will let you bring in your own food, which most race tracks around the country DO NOT allow. You can bring in your own coolers full of food and drinks (non alcohol and not already opened). Keep in mind this is a sporting facility not a 5 star restaurant you are going to. However there is a restaurant at Emerald Downs and I've eaten there numerous times and the food is good. Granted I don't have a delicate palate as some of you yelp food connoisseurs. Be sure to make reservations in advance as with every other restaurant on the face of the earth! There is also the Quarter Chute Cafe which ISN'T located inside Emerald Downs, it is located by the horse barns along Emerald Downs Drive (turn into the parking lot directly after the four way stop). Google it if you have any questions about the menu or where it is located. The food there is delicious and they have tons of options. Those are the biggest issues I have seen with other reviews. There have been comments about the employees which I disagree with. I have only encountered friendly and helpful employees. That could be because I treat them like human beings and not as slaves, try addressing them without a superior attitude that always helps. Some of the customers embarrass me the way they treat the employees. Without fail during the fireworks show EVERY year. The food stands close at 10:00PM. They post signs all over the place stating the closing time. This year I had the privilege of standing in line for a hot chocolate around 9:30PM and witnessed a lady screaming at the employees demanding them to help her despite the fact that she got in line after it had been cut off. Second hand embarrassment much? read more

Terrible communication!! I went to the Corgi race today expecting to have a great time. No where on the website did it say how to enter your dog to run in the race, nor did it mention that only racing dogs are allowed to get in. The best part is that half of the staff didn't know only racing corgis were allowed, and the rest of the staff was rude. If this event is run like this, I would hate to see how other events are handled. I will never be returning. The website, FB page and overall communication is comical. What a waste of an hour and a half! read more

Just reviewing the dance floor/casino. On a recent Saturday, my wife and I decided to listen to some well-reviewed local cover bands. First off, the charge to park anywhere reasonably close to the venue is outrageous. The security guards were cordial, I'll give them that. The venue itself is connected to the casino area, so there is some disconnect between those who are there for the band and those that are here for the gambling. In other words, IT'S NOISY! Unfortunately, this drives all those that are here to see the band onto the dance floor so they can see and hear them, so dancing is out of the question. The bar is woefully understaffed, so expect to stand in line a good half hour for a drink. Limited seating, no "dancing" allowed, sparse (and expensive) drinks? No thanks; I won't be back. read more

pre fourth of July races. fireworks were amazing. food was very average. drinks weren't stiff enough. beers were cool enough. staff friendly. way to long for VIP to wait on cars to come back. not saying I'm VIP but it you get the sweet on the six or top floor you should get extra special treatment. first time I've ever bet on the horses, didn't do to bad. won on three races lost on five came out ahead. that made the experience a four star instead of the 2 stars I would have given it for the food. happy fourth everyone. hope you all enjoy it. read more

Emerald Downs - postings - Horse Racing Near Me - Auburn, Washington

June 3rd, met up with high school friends spent the day. Had a great time. Met a very nice horse owner. Bet, lost bet and won. Food from the grill, burgers meh, fries were very good. Groupon helps keep costs reasonable, used valet parking, also fun. Haven't been in years, planning on a few more trips this summer. read more

ahhhh the joys of summer. if you're not amongst the 30,000 bandwagon fans of Mariner's baseball and you don't feel like going to safeco to pay $9 for a beer to watch you're team fight to stay above .500... Emerald Downs may just be the place for you. on a nice summer weekend - $7 gets you thru the door while children 17 and under are free! you can grab an ice cold beer for about $5 or $6 and a seat out in the sun and watch some horse racing. the bookies there are nice and friendly and are willing to help and explain to you how the process works. and with a minimum of $1 bets - its worth it to feel the adrenaline rush of standing on the fence screaming for you're horse to cross the line first. not a fan of standing outside with the general public? for a few dollars more - you can feel high class and grab some boxed seats and enjoy a high view with full bar and food services as well. boxed seats not good enough? there are suite rentals available as well (not sure of pricing). fun for all ages - taking kids down to the stables to watch the horses up close or even having fun in the arcade upstairs. plenty of ice cream, pop corn, food, and bars. its definitely something new and different to do! read more