If asked, “how does one who knows little about Thoroughbred racing have a fun day at the racetrack”, my answer is to reverse the traditional path. “First, learn how to bet, then learn how to handicap.”
If the problem for new fans to racing is not knowing how to win and have fun, one solution is providing an understanding of how the gamble at the core of the game works.
To recap, if the problem for new fans to racing is not knowing how to win and have fun, one solution is understanding the Odds Board. The plan is to first learn to bet, then learn to handicap.
Thoroughbred racing is at least at two-part game. The handicapping part and the wagering/decision-making part. A single thread links this series of articles together.
Folks drawn for the first time to a day of Thoroughbred racing lack a clear understanding of how to win and have fun wagering. Many will attend big-race days and encounter a card of 12-14 races.