Back in '92 the old AmTote boards were still in action at Saratoga while I was working as a computer operator for AutoTote jammed up in a small room off the catwalk in the grandstand.
Testing the incandescent light bulbs the day before opening with random fires out to the lights:
Three computer operators were locked into the DEC mainframe with a manager nearby although only two comptechs were needed to get a race underway. What did the third guy go?
Well, when some lights burned out on the ancient tote boards the computer operator not in action took off his shoes and jumped into some boots to jump some fences to get out the tote boards.
There was a problem. In the lake back in '92 there was an enormous gander that had some girlfriends and little geese that were his in August. Once you started walking across the inner turf course to the last fence the male goose would see you, get out of the water and attack with wings spread while kicking and screaming. To make matters worse there was usually a large tomcat lurking nearby in cover off the backstretch looking for a goose dinner.
I am happy to report that I was never injured going out to the tote boards and no goose was ever taken by a cat (so far as I know) but there were some scary noises and great animal action happening between races back in 1992.