Jeffrey Fink's passion for horse racing started out, like for many others, a numbers game. Growing up in New York, he would visit Belmont Park with his father, Jay, who taught Fink everything he knew about playing the horses.
“My father was instrumental in getting me into horse betting and gambling in general,” Fink said. “I even went with him to shoot dice when Atlantic City opened way back when, so I've always been a fan of the numbers.”
About a year ago, summer, that passion for the numbers and a desire to make some bets on a few races brought Fink into a place aptly named Striders–a new upscale pub and satellite wagering facility located in the hip Gaslamp District of Downtown San Diego. Striders had been open since that previous October. Fink, so enthralled by the idea of turning the establishment into a mecca where serious bettors and new racing fans alike could mix and mingle, became managing partner of Striders last August.
“I think we're most proud of being able to gain a reputation here from the locals that it's a fun place to come, and not pretentious,” Fink said.
Fink is now a prolific business man and racehorse owner who has used his expertise to turn Striders into something quite unique. For starters, he brought over his head chef Tony Gutierrez from Madison on Park, another San Diego eatery Fink opened recently, to revamp the menu at Striders.
“You see that upscale pub menu here–from terrific hamburgers, to flatbreads, great chicken wings–we've really developed a superb menu that plates perfectly, and the response from our customers has been excellent,” Fink said.
Those dining with a particularly large appetite go for one of Striders signature dishes, the “Pick Six Burger,” a gargantuan concoction of two grilled beef patties, barbeque pulled pork, cheddar cheese, grilled onions, with a chipotle barbeque sauce. To go along with it, Striders serves an array of hand-crafted cocktails, wines, and craft beers. Happy Hour runs weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m. and additional daily specials include $5 Jameson shots, 50-cent wings, all-you-can-eat crab legs and pasta nights.
But it's the racebook–and getting newcomers into the action–that is really at the center of it all at Striders, which is situated approximately 20 miles south of Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
“Horse racing is fun for everybody, and I think Del Mar does a great job emphasizing that with the 4 o'clock Fridays, the beer events, the concerts,” Fink said. “Horse racing is going to die unless you bring some fun into it and introduce a new generation to the sport, showing them some of the fundamentals of the game.”
That is the impetus behind the “Betting 101” classes held at Striders. Available on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m., and during happy hour on Fridays from 3 to 6 p.m., restaurant patrons can enjoy bites, beers and cocktails while learning how to wager from Striders' team of pro handicappers. Classes can accommodate up to 60 guests and everything is taught from wager types, how to read the program, proper lingo and terms, wagering strategies and more.
The pros then will walk guests upstairs to Striders' Turf Club Lounge–their Las Vegas style lounge where people can wager on any horse race happening at the time and watch live on one of the 8,200 square foot venue's 150 HD TVs.
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