Ten Can’t-Miss Horse Racing-Football Doubleheaders for 2015
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Racing photos by Eclipse Sportswire/Football photos courtesy Wikimedia Commons
It is now September, Del Mar and Saratoga have closed up for the summer, and all eyes point towards marquee racing meets such as Keeneland and the fall meet at Belmont Park in advance of the 31st Breeders’ Cup World Championships on October 30-31.
However, the change of seasons brings more than a change in racing venues. We have just begun one of the most important seasons of all in the lives of many Americans: football season.
Football season means many things. For me, it means taking it easy on Friday nights so that I can make sure I’m ready for “College Gameday” on Saturday mornings. It means tailgating with friends and family before big Hurricanes and Dolphins games here in South Florida. And for 17 Sundays every year, it brings the true meaning of “Sunday Funday” for many folks who love their football across the country.
As a horse racing fan at heart, football season brings about the opportunity for one of my favorite activities all year long: the racetrack-football game doubleheader. With most NFL cities being home to a Thoroughbred racetrack (and with many college towns also laying claim to a hometown racing venue), a couple times per year it is possible to catch a few races and see the big game at the stadium all in the same day. Below are some of the best racetrack-football game doubleheaders for the 2015 season (all times local):
1. October 4Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. kickoffBelterra Park, 1:45 p.m. first post
PAUL BROWN STADIUM IN CINCINNATI
Our first doubleheader of the season can be found in the Queen City, where Belterra Park rests a short 9.1 miles from Paul Brown Stadium, home of the Bengals. Spend a fall Cincinnati morning tailgating and then take in the game before heading to Belterra for the late double!
2. October 11San Francisco 49ers at New York Giants, 8:30 p.m. kickoffBelmont Park, 12:55 p.m. first post
Public transportation will be your friend for this doubleheader, where a 4:41 p.m. Long Island Railroad train from Belmont Park will have you back at Penn Station by 5:30 p.m. From Penn Station you will be able to use special "Train to the Game" service to get to MetLife Stadium. Don't worry about staying up too late, as Monday, October 12 is the Columbus Day holiday!
3. October 19New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:30 p.m. kickoffParx Racing, 12:55 p.m. first post
There may be nothing better in the world than playing hooky on a Monday for a day filled with racing and football. Head out to Parx for the afternoon card before venturing to Lincoln Financial Field for a Monday Night Football edition of the Giants-Eagles rivalry!
EAGLES FOOTBALL
4. October 26Baltimore Ravens at Arizona Cardinals, 5:30 p.m. kickoffTurf Paradise, 12:55 p.m. first post
Our list of doubleheaders gives us back-to-back weeks of Monday Night Football, as this week the Arizona Cardinals host the Baltimore Ravens. Looking for something to do before the game? Check out a few races at Turf Paradise, located about 20 miles away from University of Phoenix Stadium (home of the Cardinals).
5. November 22Dallas Cowboys at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. kickoffGulfstream Park West, TBD first post
As a South Florida resident and lifelong Dolphins fan, this is certainly my favorite doubleheader on the list. Gulfstream Park West (formerly known as Calder Race Course) is located only one mile from Sun Life Stadium, and I have made the walk between the two venues many times in the past. Watch the Dolphins beat up on the Cowboys early and then win yourself a trifecta at Gulfstream Park West late!
RACING AT GULFSTREAM PARK WEST
6. November 22Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers, 5:30 p.m. kickoffDel Mar, 12:30 p.m. first post
This doubleheader would not have been possible prior to 2014, but with the addition of the Del Mar Bing Crosby meet to the November racing landscape, an afternoon of racing followed by an evening of Chargers football is now certainly in play. The November 22 Del Mar card will feature the Cary Grant Stakes, and after the races Qualcomm Stadium will feature an AFC West showdown between the Chargers and Chiefs.
7. December 6Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints, 12 p.m. kickoffFair Grounds, TBD first post
There is no question that the Crescent City loves its Saints, but New Orleans loves its horse racing as well! With Fair Grounds only three miles away from the Superdome, you can certainly catch the Saints vs. Panthers game before getting to the track for the last few races. Don't forget to save a little energy to celebrate your winners in the French Quarter that evening!
FAIR GROUNDS RACING
8. December 13Seattle Seahawks at Baltimore Ravens, 8:30 p.m. kickoffLaurel Park, 1:10 p.m. first post
With this doubleheader falling in December, it would be wise to pack a warm jacket. However, the action on both the racetrack and the football field will certainly be hot, as an afternoon at Laurel Park followed by a transcontinental showdown between the Ravens and Seahawks will be tough to beat!
9. December 27Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. kickoffTampa Bay Downs, 12:30 p.m. first post
There is nothing better than a warm Christmas spent in the Sunshine State, and with the Chicago Bears in town on December 27, Tampa will definitely be a popular holiday destination. With Tampa Bay Downs lying 12 miles northwest of Raymond James Stadium, an afternoon of Buccaneer football before a few races at Tampa Bay Downs may be the perfect way to bridge the gap between Christmas and the New Year!
BONUS:
10. October 31Tennessee Volunteers at Kentucky Wildcats, TBD kickoffBreeders' Cup at Keeneland, 11 a.m. first post
KENTUCKY FOOTBALL
While I wanted to keep this list comprised only of NFL matchups, this doubleheader is simply too good to resist. Commonwealth Stadium, home of the Wildcats, lies 6.5 miles from Keeneland, home of the 2015 Breeders' Cup. While the official game time for the Kentucky-Tennessee matchup has not yet been announced, if this doubleheader is feasible time-wise, it would certainly be one for the ages (the combination of an SEC rivalry and the greatest Thoroughbred racing in the world would be off the charts!).