Tips for a Family-Friendly Horse Race Experience

Horse racing is most popular amongst bettors, but the sport can be a fun and memorable experience for families, too. Taking time to mindfully plan the day will engage children and help parents relax. Witnessing a major racing event or a more casual horse race at a local track can be more enjoyable by following these tips for a family-friendly horse race experience.

You can log on to horse racing betting sites to make pre-race wagers. Live betting is a better approach to evaluate the odds on specific contenders as the race progresses.

Choose the Right Venue

Not all horse race tracks are created equally. Some feature the standard race track, concession stands, and restroom facilities. Others are more family-friendly with play areas, picnic zones. Find a venue with infield access so everyone can go their separate ways to relax while still having fun during their trip.

For the best results, find a horse race day that’s also marketed as a family or community day. Some may feature free face painting, horse-related craft tables, live music, and kid-friendly dining areas.

Pack Ahead of Time

Think about what you’ll need to pack for the horse races far in advance. Besides these listed items, remember to include anything your children need daily. For potty-training toddlers, don’t forget extra clothes and diapers, or underwear. If your child takes any medications, use a small pill storage container to pack them for easy access.

  • Binoculars to view the race.

  • A picnic blanket and portable chairs.

  • Sunscreen and bug spray.

  • A picnic lunch and healthy snacks if you’re allowed to bring outside food.

  • Travel-friendly kids activities for younger children, like mini coloring books or fidget toys.

Teach Horse Racing Basics

A family-friendly horse race experience can be more than just a good time. Turn it into an educational experience by teaching your kids horse racing basics.

Showcase an easy-to-understand verbal commentary during different parts of the race. Explain how you can tell which horse is who by their jockey and the racing number on their saddle.

Tell them what happens before the race, including the parade ring and loading the horses into the starting gates. Explain how many laps all the horses must go to declare the final winner.

Based on your research, tell your kids what you know about each horse. Ask them to predict which horse they think will win and compare it to the actual race results. This can be a great lesson in teaching comparison and contrast, as well as cause and effect to your children.

Plan Downtime in Between Races

Depending on their age, children can get bored having to sit for a long period. Plan breaks to change up the scenery and reinforce engagement.

Go for a walk near the paddock to get a closer look at the horses. Walking around the venue in between races is great exercise and helps reset children’s focus during long horse races.

Opting for a venue with a playground or entertainment zone is great for kids to play and have fun in between spectating the races. Especially if it’s your family’s first horse race, one or more of your children could think it’s boring. This depends on their perception and personality, so remain patient and have a planned itinerary to keep it interesting for the children.

Don’t Forget Pictures

Every family trip is a memory worth capturing with photos. Take a group shot in front of the race track before the event starts. If allowed, you can take photos with the jockeys and horses. Even silly selfies while wearing race day hats are fun ways to capture the moment.