If you are heading to the races, it’s a great excuse to make a whole day of it. Here are our top tips to make the most out of a day at the races…
Horseracing is a time-honoured tradition in the UK going back hundreds of years. The sport of today is entirely different to the first races of the 12th century, though, particularly in regards to the role of the spectators.
If you are preparing for your first horseracing experience, you might not know exactly what to expect. A day, or week, at the races isn’t something that you just want to turn up to and hope for the best. Instead, there are a few things that you should plan on doing ahead of time in order to make the most out of your time at the races.
Arriving at the Track
You should plan on arriving at the track fairly early. Most tracks will open their doors about two hours before the first race, and if you are going to a massively popular race like the Gold Cup, then you definitely want to take advantage of that time. There will most likely be a large crowd, so the sooner you can get in, the better chances you’ll have of staking out a prime spot to watch the races.
Place Your Bets
When you go to a horse race chances are you will want to take a shot at betting. For many people, it’s a big part of the entire experience. It is important to keep in mind, though, that you need to need to set yourself a limit before you even arrive at the track.
The last thing you want to do is ruin the great day you have planned by losing more money than you can spare. You want to remember the day for the fun you had with your friends, not for the money you lost.
Once you have your limit set, then you can start the process of picking the horse that you would like to bet on. There are countless tactics that racegoers use to pick the horses they think will perform the best on the big day. Take a look at the tips that are published daily to see what predictions the experts are making. For example, you can find Unibet Royal Ascot odds online to see who you should take a chance on. Take a look at the weather forecast as well. Certain horses are known to perform better if there is no rain, while others are more likely to win in wetter conditions.
Inside the Track
Once you are inside the racetrack, you’ll want to make note of the food and beverage stands that are available to you based on the type of ticket you purchased. If you paid for a more expensive ticket, then you might have access to some premium areas.
You’ll also want to make note of where the parade ring is located. This is the place where the riders will take their horses about 15 minutes before the start of the race. They will parade around for the spectators to see, so it’s a great opportunity to see the horses you’re betting on up close.
