One of horse racing’s many focuses over the past handful of years has been to make itself attractive to younger demographics. The notion of racetracks being full of ‘old’ people gets mentioned as a negative with regularity. Following in the footsteps of John Shear, another raceway employee in his 90s has shown that he is both an asset and treasure for a day of live racing.
Shear’s story made national headlines a few years ago. In 2011, the selfless 90-year-old threw himself into the path of a loose Thoroughbred at Santa Anita racetrack to save a five-year-old patron. Shear, a former jockey, spent time in the hospital and later recuperated from his injuries at home. The track would go on to honour Shear, who was able to reunite with the young girl two years after the incident.
A report that is featured on fox2now.com has profiled Charlie Zuber, a 90-year-old program vendor at Illinois’ Fairmount Park.
Zuber, who has worked at the Thoroughbred racetrack for 63 years, has been characterized as an instrumental piece of the raceway by its president, Brian Zander.
“It’s just that him being able to take that extra time with the customers in particular since he’s the first one you have contact with, it’s like having a program seller/ ambassador here for the track at all times,” Zander explained.
Zander breaks racing down to any ‘newbies’ that walk in the door; navigating them through the ins and outs of the racing program. He may even divulge some of the numbers and figures that lead to an inside edge on making a buck or two.
“You need to know [the horse’s] past performance, who he was bred by, and who he’s running against and how much money he’s running from,’ said Zuber.
Zuber also offered up tips on how a day at the racetrack can help you in life. “Just go to work and work it and enjoy your job and enjoy the people,” he said.
And, when asked if the track keeps him young, it didn’t take Zander long to respond with a solid “yes.”
(With files from fox2now.com)