A Day At The Races: Your In-Person Betting Guide

Arriving: The gates of a racecourse tend to open around two hours before the racing actually begins. This may seem like a lot of time, but you will be surprised by how fast it flies when you are checking out all that is on offer. Most events now offer tickets online, and it is becoming less and less common to be able to pay in person, so make sure you get that sorted in advance. The typical price for access to the racecourse, as well as most of its facilities (there will likely be some VIP areas not available to you), is generally somewhere between £20 and £80. The tickets should be sent to your email. All you need to do is show them on arrival and head through the gates, preferably with plenty of time to spare. A tip for dress code: Dressing smart is always a good idea for a day at the races – if nothing else, it is part of the fun. But most places are not overly formal when it comes to your outfit. Do check if the day in question has any specific dress code, as you would find some may have the theme to be Ladies Day at the races🧔 for example, which while not compulsory, typically has people wearing a bunch of big hats.

Having a look around: Now you are in, you should have a fair bit of time to get acquainted with your surroundings. Typical things to check out include bars, restaurants, and viewing areas alongside the betting ring. Racecourses can be quite large so alongside getting some refreshments, this is the time to decide where you would like to stand. You should also get the lay of the land so you can navigate your way around with ease, as opposed to figuring it out once the races begin. You will also likely find information for entertainment that is on offer for later in the day, it is usually prominently advertised. Walk around, enjoy the scenery, get yourself settled. Most importantly, soak in that unique atmosphere.

Preparing for the first race: We would recommend spending this time checking out your racing form, or, if you have not acquired one yet, doing so. Often these will be provided free with your ticket and should be relatively cheap and easy to find if not. Study the form in detail. It should be very similar to what you can find on the best horse racing betting sites in that it will break down the recent performances, as well as the positions, weight, age and odds of the racers.Before the first race begins, you may also get access to the parade ring, which allows you to see the horses up close. Now, some people like to do this because they think they can sense something when watching the horses that helps them make a selection. We are not entirely sure about that, but it is a great part of the experience and something we very much recommend if it is available.During this time, it is also a good idea to pay attention to any announcements for changes to any races.

Scheduling your day: Decide on how you would like to bet and put that into action.Some people like to decide upon their bets in advance and sort that all out in one big go, whereas others prefer to stagger them out throughout the day. Either way is straightforward, so go with whatever you feel is best.Your racing form should describe the schedule of the day. Most racing days begin an hour or two after mid-day and last until early evening. It is also typical to have 30-45 minutes gap between races, so it is a relaxed pace for a day out.We do think it is a good idea to go into a day at the races with an amount of money you wish to bet in mind, and to stay in control💃 by not exceeding that amount. Consider too, the additional costs of the day, including any food, drink and travel costs.

After the last race: 🍸For many, the fun doesn’t stop after the last race. There is often (live) entertainment after the racing has concluded, which and this can go on for a few hours. While it is a great way to end the day, you can always choose to head on home if you are all worn out from a long and exciting day.

Inconvenience🧸: As fun as a day at the races can be, it does utilise a great deal of time compared with betting online, so it may be inconvenient for some.

Additional costs🌱: The tickets, the drinks, the food, it’s all part of a great experience, but it all costs money. If you’re at the races with an eye on making a profit, then this needs to be considered.

No online promotions𝔍: While bonuses are available, it does mean that you miss out on a bunch of online promotions, which, depending on the quality of your bookmaker, may be more generous.

More operator choice online: If you are someone who takes the time to sign up to multiple top tier bookies (something we highly recommend), you will have more choice than what is available during a day at the races. This is especially important if you wish to bet on the best bitcoin betting sites, for instance.

It might simply not be possible𒅌: If you can’t go, you can’t bet, which is not the case online.