The demise of the NYC OTB has been well documented. Here are a few shots from the NYPL’s picture collection from when OTB was in its salad days.

NYC OTB opened in April of 1971 and shortly began using the ticket booths in the Grand Central Terminal for taking bets.

Bettors Jamming the OTB Booths at Grand Central Terminal (uncredited photo) May 31, 1971

The New Yorker ran this cartoon in the Sept 16th 1972 issue.

Drawing by Robert Day, The New Yorker Sept 16th, 1972

This picture/story about women at a local OTB parlor ran in August of 1971.

If you look closely you’ll see a man or two.

Women at the OTB - New York Sunday News August 22, 1971 uncredited photo

Does anyone else remember when they played the stretch calls on WINS 1010 AM?