The area is built upon a pre-War horse track, now inhabited by raiders and Triggermen. There are also a number of non-hostile robots racing around the track, which include models such as the Mister Gutsy, Mister Handy, Assaultron, and Eyebot. Throughout the area, there are several terminals that can be used to shut the bots down, turn them on the raiders and Triggermen, or cause them to self-destruct.[Non-game 1]
Layout[]
The northwest side consists of derelict bleachers, while southwest is Eager Ernie's lair on the upper floor, accessible by the walkway from the center or by jumping on the two table umbrellas from the stands. To the east is the actual track, in the center of which are a number of small fortifications filled with minor loot and raiders. On the south side of the center is a stable where the backups bots are stored.
As the player character gets closer to the track, they will hear Eager Ernie running commentary on the race. If spotted by any of the hostile turrets or thugs, the announcements will change to Ernie yelling for his men to deal with the player character, but Ernie himself will stay neutral as long as the player stays away from the second floor of his building and does not attack him. Entering the area with wooden structures in the middle of the racetrack will cause Ernie to shout for his men to use the robots against the player; they will turn hostile afterwards. If the robots do not become hostile, they will continue running after the area is cleared.
Notable loot[]
Tumblers Today issue #1 - On the upper floor of the southwestern building with Eager Ernie, on a small table west of the master control terminal.
Eager Ernie's key and password - On Ernie's body. The password can be used to access a computer terminal located on the second floor, which gives the following six options: 1) stop the race (deactivates the robots, causing them to stand idly in place), 2) change the race route, 3) override targeting parameters (makes the robots hostile to the raiders and Triggermen), 4) disable combat inhibitors (makes the robots hostile to the player), 5) release 3 more robots onto the track, and 6) initiate a self-destruct sequence.
Scrapper's note - In the shed which houses the replacement robots, on the desk beside the robot control terminal.
Bottlecap mine - Three armed ones, north side of the track close to a boarded up house, another to the south of the track in a tree stump. The last one next to the adjacent house.
Kidnapping: Concerned settlers will ask the Sole Survivor to help them rescue a fellow settler that was kidnapped for ransom by nearby hostiles, hoping to have them freed without harm.
Raider Troubles: A group of settlers is struggling to defend themselves against a nearby group of raiders and asks the Sole Survivor for help.
Randolph Safehouse: The Railroad agent Mister Tims will leave dead drops in the form of six holotapes for the Sole Survivor, containing information about possible hazards to the Railroad's escort and escape of synths out of the Commonwealth. They can assist in these efforts by clearing out the location of hostiles.
During the quest Rockets' Red Glare, when one boards the vertibird and heads for the Prydwen, they will pass over the racetrack. One can hear Eager Ernie's commentary over the vertibird's engine.
Assuming they are still active, Ernie's announcements will not play during any scene with the Prydwen being destroyed and crashing (Rocket's Red Glare, Airship Down, or With Our Powers Combined). This is scripted in order to avoid Ernie's radio announcements conflicting with the quest routines. The announcements will resume after the crash scene ends.
Including the extra robots that one can add to the race (via the 3 terminals in the area), there are a total of nine robots.
A few raiders will respawn over time. If the racing robots haven't been destroyed, the terminals can be reused to once again make them attack raiders.
Companion comments[]
If Curie is brought here, she will ask if this is what horse racing is, and comment that she has only seen pictures of it.
When at this location, companions make comments, which are activated at two locations: when approaching the racetrack fence, and inside the stables with the backup robots.
↑Fallout 4 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide Collector's Edition p. 341: "[4.25] EASY CITY DOWNS This was once a small, struggling racetrack with aging facilities. It is currently occupied by a gang of Raiders and Triggermen who use the track to host their robot races. Eager Ernie is in charge here, and has a key and password to unlock any doors, allowing easy access to the downstairs clubhouse terminal (Expert) and upstairs master control terminal (Expert), as well as the Repair Shop (Advanced) and Robot Control Terminal (Novice) out in the track. Both terminals allow you to control the racing robots; come evening, they turn against their masters. There are some reserve robots to activate in the south warehouse, too. Watch for items to scavenge everywhere; don’t forget to check the bus (two are locked [Novice])." (Fallout 4 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide Map)
