1) Support your local race track
Race tracks seem to be an endangered species these days, and the list of race tracks that are gone forever grows every year. Many of us nowadays do a lot of our daily watching and betting on horse racing online or at an OTB, and while these are great options, you should always try to take the time and make the effort to visit your local racecourse and watch and bet on the races live and in person where possible. It will remind you why you became a fan in the first place. In 2026, for example, Aqueduct will participate in the appeal of railways to close the store. However, instead of letting things turn negative, you can make the situation positive by visiting the brand new, revamped Belmont Park opening next fall.
2) Donate to a charity related to horses or horse racing
If you love horses and/or horse racing, the best way to show that is through charitable giving. Some of the most popular options include the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundationthe Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Thoroughbred Charities of Americaand the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF).
3) Introduce your friends to horse racing
It’s a lot of pressure to bring friends to the track who are new to the sport and aren’t fans yet because they assume you know everything and if you bet you should be able to win every race. They will be disappointed if you don’t. Still, you shouldn’t let that stop you from inviting your friends for a day at the races. Share your hobby with your friends – this is your chance to turn them into fans.
4) Qualify for the National Horseplayers Championship
Every horseplayer and handicapper should try to qualify for this annual event on their “to-do” list. The NTRA National Championship Horseplayers (NHC) is the “holy grail” for handicappers. It is an annual three-day tournament that awards cash prizes in the range of $3 million, plus an Eclipse Award for the winner. Even if you don’t win, it is still an experience that participants will not soon forget. What better place to spend a weekend with a large group of people who all share your passion for horse racing betting? First you must qualify. Go to www.NTRA.com/nhc for all information on how to get involved. The next NHC final is March 13-15, 2026 at Horseshoe Las Vegas.
5) Choose the Kentucky derby winner
This is easier said than done. There is no race that receives as much attention and criticism months in advance as the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, and there is no other race like it in North America. With full fields of 19 to 20 horses being the norm these days, choosing the winner of this race can be as challenging as it is rewarding. Rich Strike’s 80.80-1 win and $163.60 payout in 2022 is a reminder that you can’t underestimate the chances of any horse in the starting gate. Did you choose sovereignty to win in 2025? He was the third favorite in the race and he paid $17.96 to win on a $2 bet.
6) Look and bet on the Breeder’s cup
This is a no brainer. If the Kentucky Derby is the biggest race of the year, the Breeders’ Cup is the biggest on Saturday day of the year in horse racing with not one, but nine championship races. The Breeders’ Cup World Championships are truly an unmissable event on the annual calendar for horseplayers and racing fans. Mark your calendars for the 2026 Breeders’ Cup now and circle the dates for October 30-October. 31 in Keeneland.
7) Make a pilgrimage to the epicenters of the sport
Saratoga, New York State, and Del Mar near San Diego, California, are the summer showcases of thoroughbred racing, and both are valuable vacation destinations for racing fans. Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., offers the best the sport has to offer every spring and fall, right in the heart of Bluegrass country, where the culture and people eat, sleep and breathe horse racing. Soon, the new Belmont Park on Long Island will rise as a shining new jewel in the sport’s crown. Put at least one of these racetracks on your 2026 itinerary and you won’t regret it.
8) Press Pick 6 or Pick 5
If you don’t play, you can’t win. The Pick 6 was once only the domain of big-money players and syndicates, but not anymore. Pick 6 bets are available almost everywhere these days in 20 cent denominations. If the Pick 6 isn’t for you, then the Pick 5 certainly is. Usually yes at least one Pick 5 per day available on most numbers, and with 50 cent denominations the norm, you can play countless combinations and increase your chances of winning. The payouts can be huge, so go ahead and swing for the fences.
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