Invest In A Racing Education

Nothing beats the enjoyment to be gained from an afternoon spent horseracing. There are so many different elements to a day at the races that there is something for everyone.

Whether it is the getting dressed up for a day out, an excuse to celebrate with racecourse hospitality (much improved at many racecourses over the last decade), the simple but pleasurable activity of people watching, the fun fairs that now accompany many family days at racecourses, or just getting out in the fresh air in (largely) pleasant surroundings, horseracing can offer it. And this hasn’t even touched upon the horses themselves or the betting.

For many visitors to the racecourse, the racing is not of the greatest importance. The race meeting might coincide with a work trip out, be a good venue for a hen party, or just a need to keep the children occupied during half-term. Such race-goers may have little appreciation for the quality of racing on the card, little understanding of the intricacies of racing or betting, and it might be their sole visit to a race meeting that year.

But for those who wish to become regular race-goers it is well worth the time and effort learning more about horseracing and betting, the terminology, a bit about the rules, and even an appreciation of the racehorse itself.

Many racing enthusiasts are lucky to have a grandfather or father who introduced them to racing at a young age, teaching them about the history of horseracing, the various elements of betting on horses and what to look for in a horse.

But if you are not lucky enough to have such a family mentor, there are many more sources of information these days to help improve your knowledge. The advent of Facebook and Twitter also make it much easier to find like-minded enthusiasts with whom to discuss racing matters and learn from their experiences. Initiatives like Student Racing have also made it easier for students to get involved in racing and many universities have horseracing societies.

My first day’s racing was in November 1998 with the university horseracing society. It was a meeting at Huntingdon and I knew very little about the card of races or the horses I was watching. Looking through the archives now I actually saw Edredon Bleu win the Peterborough Chase that year. This would turn about to be the first of four consecutive wins in the race between 1998 and 2001. Trained by Henrietta Knight (who also trained triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate), Edredon Bleu had already won the Grand Annual Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March that year and would go on to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Festival in 2000, two Haldon Gold Cup Chases (Exeter, 2002, 2003), and the King George VI Chase (Kempton Park, 2003).

But I did know that horseracing was incredibly exciting and sociable with the added potential to win money to pay for your day out. I also knew there was a lot to learn and since that day I have been adding to my understanding of racing by watching, reading, and asking.

It is an ongoing process that has so far incorporated: history, psychology, maths, statistics, biology, equine anatomy, and law.

I hope the entries in this blog can help and inspire other people to get the same enjoyment, excitement, exhilaration, and exasperation from racing that I have.