I have known people from all walks of life. It was only after reading  a story about racetrack and gambling characters, did I soul search and find myself laughing. The daily life at the track is better than any show on TV or screen… That you can bet on….

The usual fans that walk through the gate everyday come with someone else, or in a group. The cardinal rule to outsiders is that if you go by yourself, you have a problem. The busloads of travelers that make their yearly trek, with quiet ideas of hitting it big, are fun. Not to laugh at them, but to laugh at people in general. This game is not like many others. You have to prepare and have an idea of what is happening and why. Racing appeals to a small segment, and I guess that is why. If you can count to 21, you can play blackjack. If you can load up the one-arm bandits, you can be a millionaire in moments… I have always loved the mindset and beliefs of gamblers. They are truly unique, and won’t fit in day-to-day life.

As gaming is branded and thrown at you 90 miles an hour with flashy ads, racing should drop back and punt. We need to get rid of the old ways of communicating, and show the thinking side to our sport.  Just as the many who follow professional sports and can quote on key how many wins-losses and RBI’s a team has, racing offers a chance to use your noggin while playing.  No mindless staring at a screen.

Many other forms of gambling offer strategy, but mainly focus on money management. The other exceptions are betting pro and college sports, where real punters have to follow teams and know all about the details, if they want a gambler’s edge. The other, in my opinion, is poker. The basic rule of thumb is that the easier the game is to learn and play, the more of a house advantage. If you can play, and order drinks and talk to your neighbor, chances are you may be looking directly into the lion’s mouth…

So, go ahead and take a chance. Use your thinking machine. It is more of a gratifying win at the end of the day. You can think of it as studying for a test and getting an A+. You can relate to following the stock market, and making a killing by investing on that little known product or service your company has come up with. Any way you want, just think of racing as the thinking gambler’s game. At the end of the day, I bet you will feel 100 feet tall if you come out a winner. That you can bet on……