Do you take binoculars when you go to the races?
I do. I find they are “kinda” useful, “sometimes”.
They are entry level ones, Olympus, 8x21 RC 1, field 6.2".
Are these o.k. or do you recommend anything else? I can’t carry heavy ones, though, due to having a ruined spine & shoulders (from a very physical job).
My background is stbs which usually race on 1/2 or 5/8 mile tracks so I’m not used to tbs where you can’t see the whole race as well due to the larger track.
Thanks.
No binoculars, I usually follow on the screen.
I love having binoculars. I usually forget to bring them but usually someone in the group will remember and pass them around.
When I was able to wear contact lenses I used them. Now, wearing glassesI find them impossible and am relegated to getting most of my info from the TV monitors.
Always, feel naked without them. Yes, just about every track has monitors everywhere these days, some a jumbo. But it is not “up and personal” like watching with a good set of binoculars. If one of ours is running I want to see what the horse is doing right and or wrong, that includes the jockey.
I inherited my fathers Zeizz 10X40 B which are basically made for watching racing. They are relatively small and light weight, very powerful and clear, with a wide field of vision and not “sensitive” to movement when up and close. But they are very expensive. There are very good inexpensive ones to be had these days, but you sacrifice “field of view” for up and close. So you can only see a few horses. Cost many $$$ to get both and a “steady view”.
No. I’m a rail bird and for the back stretch I watch the monitor. For sure I would leave them somewhere. We have a table and we just go back and forth
from the saddling enclosure, to our glass of wine, to the rail, etc.
I can imagine, like at the Ky Derby, where the crowds are impossible, they would be useful…especially if I had a table in millionaire’s row…but that won’t happen.
Gumtree, I am guessing you mean Zeiss the famous maker of electron microscopes among lots of other optical equipment. Those are good ones wowee, would love to have those!
Thanks all!
Mr. Gumtree, I looked those up! Be sure you don’t leave them anywhere, for sure. (I’d write my phone number on masking tape & put it on them somewhere, in fact.).
I use my birding binoculars (Swarovski 10 x 42), attached with a harness, so I don’t forget them. Very nice to have at the races and occasionally an interesting bird shows up, too.
[QUOTE=Vesper Sparrow;7759497]
I use my birding binoculars (Swarovski 10 x 42), attached with a harness, so I don’t forget them. Very nice to have at the races and occasionally an interesting bird shows up, too.[/QUOTE]
Ha ha, me too. Ours are Leica, Mr KC and I each got a pair as graduation presents from his parents. I am of the “would feel naked without them” camp.
DH does. I don’t recall ever even borrowing them. The way my eyesight is going though, that may change. 
This thread made me realize the ones I have don’t really have the right specs for race watching. Thanks again.
Binoculars are cool, but after some time it becomes boring 
I don’t leave the barn without them, Use them in the morning as well
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