At the Races

"At the Races" is the eighth episode of The Flintstones season one. It aired on November 18, 1960 on ABC. It was written by Sydney Zelinka, and produced and directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, the creators of the show and the co-founders of Hanna-Barbera Productions.

Fred & Barney want to buy a pool hall, so they go down to the dinosaur racetrack, where Fred blows all his money. To cover this up, he tells Wilma he was mugged.

Detailed summary
Fred & Barney enjoy a game of pool at Boulder Dan's Billiards, where they soon find out that the owner is retiring and selling the place for $2,000. Fred gets the idea of them buying the place so they can be their own bosses. They get the idea of betting on the race track, but the only money they have is Fred's $50 wages. They pretend to Wilma that Fred has been mugged, which she doesn't believe until she sees the giant bump on Fred's head (that Barney made to convince her). She calls the doctor, who's a quack, and forces Fred to stay in bed.

Wilma goes out for some market supplies for Fred, after ordering him to stay in bed. This disrupts the boys' plans to go to the race track, so they phone a guy named Herman to bet on race dinosaur for them. Unfortunately, his dodgy dealings have caught up with him, and he's currently in the hands of the police. The only option now is to rush to the bus to the race track.

They make it to the race track and bet on Sabertooth. While there, they run into Fred's boss, who demands to know what he's doing. Fred's initially deceptive but quickly realizes that with the money he thinks he'll win, he doesn't have to hide anything, and tells his boss what he really thinks of him, along with twisting his big nose around. With Fred out of a job, they hope that Sabertooth really does win, which is further plagued by a Southern colonel betting against his own dinosaur. He mocks them that they shouldn't be betting on the races.

The race begins, and all seems lost until Sabretooth catches up, making for a close match between Sabertooth and Gravelpit, who the colonel bet on. The photo reveals Sabertooth to have won, allowing Fred & Barney to follow their dream.

On the way home, they hide the money under a rock, before confessing to Wilma of what happened (who they think might just want to put it into a bank), who is thrilled about the idea. They go back to get the money but are stopped by a mugger. Barney once again goes back to Wilma with a story of how Fred just got mugged, and once again she doesn't believe either of them.

Characters

 * style="background-color:#clear"| Fred Flintstone
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Alan Reed
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Barney Rubble
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Mel Blanc
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Boulder Dan
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Hal Smith
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Wilma Flintstone
 * style="background-color:#clear"| Jean Vander Pyl
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Doctor
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Mel Blanc
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Herman
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Bus driver
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Mel Blanc
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Sabertooth
 * style="background-color:#ffff00"| N/A
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Fred's boss
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Colonel
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Hal Smith
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Judge
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#FDB56C" colspan="2"| Betty Rubble
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Mugger
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Mel Blanc
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Fred's boss
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Colonel
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Hal Smith
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Judge
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Unavailable
 * style="background-color:#FDB56C" colspan="2"| Betty Rubble
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Mugger
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Mel Blanc
 * style="background-color:#FDB56C" colspan="2"| Betty Rubble
 * style="background-color:#d2d2ff"| Mugger
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Mel Blanc
 * style="background-color:#aaffaa"| Mel Blanc

Locations

 * Earth
 * United States
 * Bedrock
 * Boulder Dan Billiards
 * Flintstone residence

Vehicles

 * Flintmobile

Filming
The cast was recorded on April 16, 1960.

Music
The score was composed by Hoyt Curtin.

Release
Dates are in order of release:


 * United States: November 18, 1960 on ABC

Behind the scenes

 * This is the first time Betty is absent.
 * This is the first time Fred's boss (possibly an early incarnation of Mr. Slate) is seen.

Home availability

 * In the United States:
 * March 16, 2004: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete First Season on DVD.
 * October 28, 2008: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete Series (limited edition) on DVD.
 * March 13, 2012: Warner Home Video releases 4 Kids Favorites: The Flintstones Collection on DVD.
 * November 13, 2012: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete Series (standard edition) on DVD.
 * May 23, 2017: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete First Season (Hanna-Barbera Diamond Collection edition) on DVD.
 * December 12, 2017: Warner Home Video releases Hanna-Barbera Diamond Collection 4-Pack on DVD.
 * February 13, 2018: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete Series (Hanna-Barbera Diamond Collection edition) on DVD.
 * October 27, 2020: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete Series on Blu-ray Disc.
 * In Australia:
 * March 2, 2005: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete First Season on DVD.
 * In the United Kingdom:
 * November 7, 2005: Warner Home Video releases The Flintstones: The Complete First Season on DVD.