Tips for a Winning Day at The Horse Races

The horse races have always been a go-to outing for the rich and famous.  The excitement of the competition and the unparalleled beauty and power of the animals is a winning combination.  The track is the perfect place to take a date or have a fun day with a group of friends. Whether it is just a routine race day or you’re there to watch a high stake, headlining race, there will be plenty of entertainment to go around.  The biggest decisions you have to make about planning a day at the races is what you are going to wear (most tracks have a dress code), which track you are going to go to (there are several options) and most importantly, what bets you are going to place (horse betting can be fun and lucrative if you know a little bit about the different types of bets).  We have put together some tips to help your day at the races go off without a hitch.

WHERE TO GO

You can choose to attend an ultra-famous race or an ultra-famous track. Either way, you are bound to have an exciting experience not only watching the majestic thoroughbreds do what they do, but people watching, gambling and drinking as well.  The horse races are all about money and excess so do like the Romans do and be excessive.

1. TRIPLE CROWN RACES – First you must decide if you are just looking to spend an average day at the track or if you are going to go big and attend one of the Triple Crown races.  The Triple Crown consists of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and culminates with the Belmont Stakes. The Kentucky Derby takes place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday, May 2nd, and is traditionally the single biggest betting day of the year in the US.  The Preakness takes place at Pimlico in Maryland and is set to run on Saturday, May 17th. The final leg is the Belmont Stakes which will be run at Belmont Park in New York on Saturday, June 7th. The Triple Crown Races, much like the Super Bowl and the World Series, are destination events.  Plan on spending the weekend or longer in order to take in all the hype surrounding these famous race days.
2. CALIFORNIA TRACKS – California has some of the most beautiful and iconic tracks, Del Mar (San Diego), Los Alamitos (Orange County), Santa Anita (Los Angeles) and Golden Gate Fields (Bay Area).  Golden Gate Fields is in Berkeley and offers a Winter/Spring season (Jan-June) and Summer racing (Aug-Sep) as well as off track betting. Santa Anita is in Arcadia and is proudly hosting the Breeder’s Cup this year.  Santa Anita hosts live racing for a Winter/Spring (Dec-Apr) as well as a Spring/Summer season (Apr-Jun). Los Alamitos is in the city that shares its name and is known for its safe track as well as its big-name Quarter Horse races.  You can watch racing live at Los Alamitos on weekends in December and July, as well as Quarter Horse racing on weekends, year-round. Del Mar is considered by most to be the most beautiful track in all the US. It has star power that beats out even Santa Anita, and its picturesque location on the beach in north San Diego is unsurpassed.  Watch live racing in Del Mar, and rub elbows with the rich and famous, from July to September and then again in November. A table at the Turf Club is the best way to experience the beauty and excitement that Del Mar has to offer

WHAT TO WEAR

The track is a place to see and be seen.  Dressing up is part of the experience. The races are a great place to take a date, and an even better place to meet someone if you happen to be single.  Make sure to check for specific dress codes at whatever track you are attending. Some tickets and tables are in more exclusive parts of the venue and can be stricter about attire.  The bottom line is dress to impress.

1. MEN – The track is not the place to be wearing jeans and a t-shirt.  Opt for a nice dark suit for wintertime or go with a lighter suit in the summer.  If it’s really warm, linen or cotton dress pants with a sport coat will do just fine.
2. WOMEN – From Opening Day and beyond, hats are the quintessential outfit item for women at the races.  Big, small, handmade, designer, you name it, you’ll see every type of hat under the sun upon your visit to the track.  Along with the hat, opt for an elegant sundress or jumpsuit.

HOW TO BET

When all is said and done, the track’s main purpose is to host a place where you can bet on the ponies and then cheer your horse to victory.  It’s always fun to bet on a horse with a name that means something to you. And most people are familiar with the small $2 and $5 Win, Place and Show bets.  But if you are looking to have a little more fun, and possibly win a lot more money, try your hand at some of these specialty bets and let it ride.

1. EXACTA – Pick the first and second place horse, in order, in any one race.
2. TRIFECTA – Pick the first, second and third place horses in order, in any one race.
3. SUPERFECTA – Pick the first, second, third and fourth place horses in order, in any one race.
4. EXACTA, TRIFECTA OR SUPERFECTA BOX – This allows for more winning scenarios.  Your horses, for example, in a Trifecta Box, can come in in any order, as long as they are the first three horses to come in.  Boxes are more expensive, but they are fun to try and give you more chances to win.
5. DAILY DOUBLE – Pick back to back winners in two consecutive races
6. PICK 6 – Pick the winner of each race for 6 designated races.  Often this bet starts in the second or third race, is a progressive pool (if no one wins, the pot rolls over to the next day) and can be the biggest payout of all the bets on any given day.
7. BET A LONG SHOT – If a horse has odds like 20 or 30 or 40 to 1, the payout if they win is exponentially higher than betting on a favorite and having the favorite come in.  So have some fun and bet a long shot or two, it could be worth it!
   Even if you don’t win your bets, a day at the races is an experience you don’t want to miss.