You may be one of those people who has the benefit of being able to occasionally visit your local horse track and also have an online betting account. Some states do allow online horse betting and it’s always a good idea to check your local laws before opening an online account. It is also a good idea to consider the good things and bad of wagering online.
For the purposes of this article, those are the only two options we’ll consider. I realize that there are OTB’s and sportsbooks and racebooks where people can bet, according to where they are, but let’s consider a visit to the track versus sitting in your own home and betting through an online account.
For some people, one may be profitable while the other isn’t or one may be more profitable. A visit to the track may be more enjoyable simply because of the spectacle of live racing. Horseracing is a thrilling sport and the sights and sounds are usually worth the price of admission. But the price of travel, admission, parking, eats, etc., is a consideration and will have to be deducted from any profit you make. It is cheaper to sit in your own home and eat meals in your own kitchen, not to mention that the food may be more healthful.
But at home you may be distracted by the people you live with, unwanted phone calls, and other things that are not at the race track. On the other hand, there are distractions at the race track. I don’t know if you are like me, but it seems no matter where I stand or sit at the track there is always someone who seems to be trying to annoy me (okay, maybe I’m just a bit paranoid). Sometimes my horse will be way out in front and seems a sure winner, but we all know how that goes, it ain’t over and done til the official sing flashes. My horse will be in the lead and someone will loudly announce to anyone standing within 500 feet of him or her, “He can’t lose now, they won’t catch him.” Of course, once those words are out my horse starts to slow down and from out of the crowd chasing him a horse starts bearing down on him and nips him at the wire.
On those occasions it is very hard to remember the golden rule. Then there are the people who scream and yell for their horse and sometimes even get into a shouting match with others in the crowd. It can be harrowing to visit the track.
But you can’t inspect the horses well or watch them in the paddock or post parade as well as you can at the track. For sight handicapping, there is nothing like being there. You may also meet some friends or like-minded people at the race track that you wouldn’t meet while perched in front of your computer. For thinking quietly and watching the odds, home is probably the best place to be.
So what it comes down to is what kind of experience you want and how serious you are about winning. It also might depend upon your mood and financial situation. It is a personal choice but I do recommend you occasionally visit the track rather than always betting online, even if internet betting is more convenient. It is good to keep in touch with horse racing and never lose sight of the fact that it is a real event and takes place outdoors in a natural setting and those factors must be considered when picking winners.