This is a debate that comes up every year. Some tracks refund the gate fee and some don't.
My son and I go the tracks that do refund. HH, RWP, Pine Creek, Walden...too many other options at a better price and just as good a track. We will visit Sleepy and Pagoda once or twice just to see the track and for variety, but its just the principal of paying to watch a practice that doesn't make sense.
I wonder how many $30 fees they lose in trying to get $50 or $60 for the family.