Horse racing is a sport wrapped in a luxurious coat and often regarded as the sport reserved for the elite. Now, even though most races last around 2 minutes, the actual event has full day activities, and sometimes it can stretch out to a couple of days.
So, how can you cheer for your favorite horse and make wise betting decisions with an empty stomach? Impossible, right?
That’s why the culinary spectacle of horse racing events is one of their top priorities. Most of the world-renowned horse-racing events offer food and drinks to satisfy every person’s taste. To be honest, most of the racing events stick close to their traditional dishes, but we’ve seen some improvements and adaptations to make it suitable for modern day events.
We all know that horse racing is a sport of high caliber. Therefore, fine-dining should be the main goal of these events, right?
Well, yes, but it is almost impossible to organize a fine-dining experience for over 140,000 guests at the Kentucky Derby. So, they had to introduce eat-on-the-go snacks and fast-food dishes that can be eaten while watching the race, without getting your outfit messed up.
Since the food is quite important on such events, reading the Kentucky Derby betting guide isn’t the only thing you need to worry about. You should also check out what an event has to offer in terms of food.
In today’s article we will highlight some of the best snacks that are often consumed at horse racing events.
Convenient Snacks
As previously said, races take only a few minutes, thus most people who attend a race choose to nibble rather than sit down for a complete meal. Most racetracks provide a variety of food alternatives, including as sandwiches and burgers, that may be consumed while watching the race without missing any action.
Some racetracks serve traditional food. For example, if you’re going to the Kentucky Derby, they’ll provide their renowned burgoo stew along with other healthy appetizers like delicious beef peas, carrots, and potatoes.
Del Mar, on the other hand, supplied burgers and fries, sliced sandwiches, and pizzas at last year’s Breeders’ Cup.
During the Kentucky Derby, expect to see a plethora of options, but the BBQ pulled pork sandwiches are the most popular.
Cold Treats and Drinks
Ice cream is traditionally offered during horse racing events, particularly those held in the summer. The greatest method to deal with hot weather is to eat ice cream and drink a cool beverage.
There are several drink alternatives available as refreshments during horse racing events to suit everyone’s tastes.
Some racetrack even provide their own traditional beverages, such as the Mint Julep during the Kentucky Derby. The Mint Julep has been served at Churchill Downs for decades, and over 120,000 Mint Juleps are consumed annually during the Kentucky Derby.
If you decide to visit Belmont Park and attend the famed Belmont Stakes, you will be offered the Belmont Jewel, which has long been considered the race’s official drink.
Del Mar, on the other hand, is located in California and obviously offers a wonderful range of ice cream to keep you refreshed.
Luxury Dining
Fast meals and snacks are not the only foods available during horse racing events. You may also sit down and eat a complete meal before, after, or during the race at one of the restaurants around the track.
Some of the most prestigious events, such as the Kentucky Derby, now include luxury meals in some of their ticket packages, or you may make a reservation while on the racecourse.
All major racetracks include high-quality restaurants where you may watch horse racing while enjoying delicious meals in a peaceful setting. Some even have a handful of different themed restaurants where you may chose the food you want.
Most Common Snacks Served on Big Horse Racing Events
So, we can conclude that most of the tracks have a couple of their original recipes, but also introduce new things into their many. After all, eating a Burgoo stew isn’t the easiest thing while you are in a crowd with 100,000 people.
Here are some of the most common snacks you can find on horse racing events:
Convenient Snacks:
- Sandwiches and burgers for easy, on-the-go eating.
- Specialties like Kentucky burgoo stew, a mix of meat, peas, carrots, and potatoes.
- BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, especially popular at the Kentucky Derby.
- Dips and Sticks. Many tracks include bite-sized food along with a signature dip.
- Pizza and Fast food in general.
- Fried Potatoes.
Sweet Snacks:
- Pies
- Cakes
- Small chocolate deserts
Healthy Choices:
- Protein shakes, tuna fish, and chicken salad for health-conscious attendees.
- Homemade snacks like chicken salad with apples and grapes, or creative options like “Snickers bites” (peanut butter and dates covered in dark chocolate).
- Vegan Choices.
All food options really depend on the location of the race. Most races try to stick to their traditional roots and offer something that it is quite popular in that region. So, before you go on a race, make sure you do some research on what’s popular in the region, just to know what to expect in terms of snacks.
