The Racing 101 Fan Hub will make the first of three appearances at Saratoga Race Course this weekend.
NYRA and America's Best Racing are partners in the initiative to educate casual fans about the sport of Thoroughbred racing. The Fan Hub will be located near the festival tent in the backyard picnic area and will be open from 10:30 a.m. through the final post on Saturday and Sunday.
Visitors to the Racing 101 Fan Hub will receive one-on-one instruction from some of the industry’s leading handicappers, including fan ambassador and America’s Best Racing talent Joe Kristufek. The personalized tutorials will include direction on the various types of wagers; explanations of track terminology; and best practices for reading the racing program.
Also, the handicappers will accompany track patrons to the paddock to explain what qualities to look for in a horse; and also to the pari-mutuel windows to provide guidance on properly placing a bet. Various jockeys, trainers and other racing figures will visit the tent to greet fans and answer questions about the sport. The Racing 101 fan tent will also feature tables and chairs for patrons and television monitors to view the day’s races.
First activated at the 2012 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course, the Racing 101 Fan Hub is a pilot program designed to enhance new fan education at premier racing meets throughout the country. The fan development initiative is an element of America’s Best Racing, an awareness building platform developed by The Jockey Club to increase the visibility of horse racing, as well as the lifestyle and competition associated with the sport.