From the outside, Trackside Off-Track Betting looks a bit like a horse stable; inside, it feels even closer to the real thing. The gamblers' paradise decor features wood planks crossed at slight angles, evoking what a horse might feel before the big race. Random horseshoes dot the walls, the floors and even the sidewalk outside. Add a few bales of hay and the image would be complete.

More than just a casual stop for Weed Street partiers, Trackside has regular patrons, mostly male betters, every day of the week. If you want to get in for the big races–The Breeders Cup, The Kentucky Derby, etc.-you'd better make a reservation. All five rooms, including the two bars–with $5 minimum purchase rules-get packed with people watching races from all over the world on more than 200 screens. If you want to keep your rooting interest private, $3 will get you your own personal TV and server in the Teletheatre. It costs $2 to get in the door (a state and city tax), and you can purchase the daily racing form for a small fee if you don't want to hang out in the back to read the posted version.

Not too into horse racing? Try Trackside on NFL Sundays for $3 Miller Lite drafts and Monday and Tuesdays for $2 Lite drafts and $5 pizzas. The Mud Bug Sports Room has big screens for all the Bears games! Hungry? Try the Grandstand Concession food or the restaurant. After all, Mud Bug Cafe is "Where Winners Eat!"

Centerstage Reviewer: Pasha Carroll