AUGUST 2014

Mark S, Commish, Jane S, Jill G., Joey, Jojo, Boomer and John D.

Flash mob hits Ferndale as 8 punters show up. A beautiful setting on the Northern Cal coast but a rough weekend for all wallets on hand. It now looks like this was the end of the line for the BTJs.

NOVEMBER 2013

Joey, Boomer, Commish.

Junket #32 returns to GGF for a 2nd time. The Pinole Days Inn turns out great and our comped-in track accommodations even better. BUt unfortunately all 3 punters come home in the red.

APRIL 2013

Boomer, Billy D, Commish, Jimmy.

Lucky 13th Phoenix trip revisits La Quinta Inn. Three of four punters win as on-track attendance soars and we have to fight for a table.

OCTOBER 2012

Joey, Boomer, Billy D, Commish, Jimmy.

Twelfth Phoenix trip revisits La Quinta Inn. Swat team is called to bash down nieghbors door. At the track, all punters get punished, but all-in-all a good trip.

AUGUST 2012

Mark S, Commish, Jane S, Jill G.

Fantastic setting in the redwoods, but another lesson on how tough Ferndale cashing can be.

APRIL 2012

Boomer, Billy D, Commish, Jimmy, Dave.

La Quinta replaces the Red Roof and gets thumbs up from all 5 junketeers. Racing slips a bit in quality and field sizes seem shorter.

OCTOBER 2011

Boomer, Billy D, Commish, Jimmy.

Our 27th BTJ and tenth visit to Phoenix. Racing has changed here dramatically since the demise of Yav last summer.

AUGUST 2011

Hawk, Mark S, Commish, Jane S, Jill G.

A great BT junket destination IF you can beat the overhead. Fair admission $8, track admission $2, parking $5, ouch.

JULY 2011

Commish, Boomer, Mark, Hawk, Carlos.

Five get to Grants Pass over the 4th of July weekend. Lack of horses causes very short fields. We'll put a hold on GrP unless/until field sizes improve.

JANUARY 2011

Billy D, Boomer, Commish, Joey, Jimmy.

Our 9th trip over to Phoenix (and 24th overall) is one of the best ever as all 5 junketeers come home in the black.

OCTOBER 2010

BillyD, Boomer, Commish, Dave, Jimmy.

Our 8th trip over was shorthanded but a great trip nonetheless where 3 of 5 came home with a profit.

JULY 2010

Commish and Boomer.

Three days at Grants Pass over the 4th of July weekend puts this venue at the top of the Fair tracks-- great area, low overhead. Downside? It's a 300+ mile drive from the Oakland airport.

JANUARY 2010

Billy, Jimmy, Barb, Commish, Boomer, Dave, Joey, Roger, and TomK.

Reduced overhead, great new eateries, fine weather and full fields make this one of the best BTJs yet. But unfortunaely, it was the last time we saw TomK.

JULY 2009

Jimmy, Barbara, Joey, Jojo, Commish, Boomer.

Six make Denver where half of them win. Great weather and a true bush track where lucky punters can drag down an entire pool. Downside: Pick wrong weekend and get 1/2 Q racing.

FEBRUARY 2009

Jimmy, Boomer, Joey, Commish.

Only 4 make the long trip to El Paso and the handicapping is tough but the track turns out a winner with the lowest overhead we've ever seen.

AUGUST 2008

Commish, Dave, Boomer, Jimmy, Billy D.

The Elko junket turns up the best Bush Track yet for money winning potential as exotic after exotic paid a huge price or nobody in the place had it. Downside? It was a tough track to get to.

JULY 2008

Commish, Boomer on a scouting trip.

Four straight days at Russell Baze Downs (Sonoma County Fair at Santa Rosa) was a scouting trip for a future BTJs but we struck it from consideration when it proved to be a clone of Golden Gate.

JULY 2008

Commish on a scouting trip.

A two day run up to Grants Pass, OR uncovered the best Fair track we've seen yet. Hope we can schedule a BTJ there some day.

MARCH 2008

Commish, Dave, Jimmy, Boomer, Billy, TomK, Barbara.

Perfect weather for BTJ #15. Barbara V debuts. Boomer and Jimmy knock 'em dead as 3 of 6 junketeers win. "Wallet Day" huge. Whistled wins feature.

OCTOBER 2007

Commish, Dave, Jimmy, Boomer, Billy, Waz, Joey, Mark, Jojo.

The boys B.A.R.T. into Hotel San Carlos. Thursday inter-track. Friday, crazy night racing. The Lil' Biscuit House, Harry's Hofbrau. Saturday, hat day. Sunday, Mark, Jojo, JoeF and Carly show up.

MARCH 2007

Dave, Jimmy, Boomer, Billy, Tom K.

Lotsa turf racing, lotsa steam horses, no Q racing. All 4 junketeers in red. TomK makes cameo at track and Home Town Buffet. Billy D has another date. Commish misses his first BTJ with bad back.

OCTOBER 2006

Commish, Jimmy, Boomer, Billy, Waz.

Motel 6 and Home Town Buffet in Pinole. Passes blow but Sue comps us in anyway with finish line box seats. Winning inter-track on Thurs. Live racing on Friday (rain and mud) and Saturday (dry and fast).

JUNE 2006

Commish, Dave, Jimmy, Boomer, Joey, Jojo.

Six see poor cards as 11 Q races run. Favs win 13 of 25. Nice room at the Days Inn. Garcia's and Francisco's Mexican both sub par but Chinese buffet saves weekend. Dave goes slotting.

DECEMBER 2005

Commish, Dave, Jimmy, Boomer, Billy, Joey, Jojo, TomK, Waz, Roger.

Boys fly in, rent a mid-size but get a van in Phx. Poor cards chew up punter's wallets but Joe hits $230 tri at SA. Dave and Boomie hit the dogs. Feedbag at HTB but some couldn't find the China Buffet.

JUNE 2005

Commish, Dave, Jimmy, Joey, Boomer, Jojo, Mark.

Three fly to Phx where Jimmy picks 'em up. Drive to Yav, bunk at Days Inn. Joe and Jojo turn up next morning. Track in most desolate spot imaginable but a dandy layout. Racing cheap but good.

NOVEMBER 2004

Commish, Dave, Jimmy, Billy, TomK, Bif.

Rained on and off. HTB and China Harvest fed us well. Jimmy tabs Bubweiser who wins the feature by a 'long neck' at $16. Bif's swan song on BTJs.

MAY 2004

Commish, Dave, Jimmy, Bif, JackW, TomK.

Spent most of the time in Laughlin where Dave hits big slot jackpot. Fair racing profitable but too many Qs on the card. Played inter-track at 'Nugget' on Sunday. It was the last time we ever saw Jack Whistler.

NOVEMBER 2003

Commish, Dave, Jimmy, Bif, Billy, TomK.

Mick Ruis dominates the racing as a band plays on the apron. Tom K shows for HTB dinner and pops for everybody's meal. A bridge jumper bets $40,000/show on a M5000 claimer. Billy D has 2 different dates.

NOVEMBER 2002

Commish, Dave, Jimmy, Bif, Billy, TomK.

We discover the gem that is Turf Paradise. Lonely grandstand, cheap prices, friendly staff, live band on the apron, owl in rafters. Tom K makes cameo. Bif, Commish, Dave hit live dog races.

OCTOBER 2001

Commish, Dave, Bif, Jimmy, Joey, Norm, Bruce.

New motel owner Har Dewar terrorizes NSAAers. Lack of passes keeps overhead high. Dave leaves $350 voucher in machine, losses it. HTB, Ole Frejole and Incredible Pizza feed us well. Bowling 2 of 3 nights.

OCTOBER 2000

Commish, Dave, Jimmy, Bif, Norm, Joey.

New mgmt. at Fair cancel our passes. Freak storm hits turning oval into mudhole, 2 of 3 racing days cancelled. NSAA sells abandoned Forms/Progs. back to track, make bundle. We tour fair and play inter-track.

OCTOBER 1999

Commish, Jimmy, Bif, Dave, Norm, Joey.

Strings comps us in with 18 passes and box seats. Ding Dong Ducky, 8yo. 1st time starter with girl jock wins for Dave. Ole Frejole, Bob's Big Boy and Indian Casino top eateries. Joey and Dave bowl free.

OCTOBER 1998

Commish, Jimmy, Bif.

NSAA launches BTJs. Three in a room at the Travelodge. Strings comps passes and seats. Home made Mexican food found at Ole Frejoles. Bobs and Pizza Hut complete grub stops. Bif touts 50-1 in feature who wins but with none of us on him.