Ten Reasons Speed Dating and Horse Racing Are a Perfect Match

Photos by Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing unless otherwise noted
“What in the world does horse racing have to do with speed dating?" you ask. Quite a bit. In fact, they complement each other perfectly. There’s no better setting to meet new people than the track and apps like Tinder or websites like Match.com and eHarmony can help you meet a prospective date, and day at the races can have a lot in common with online matchmaking and speed dating. Below are 10 reasons that’s the case:  
1- The typical speed dating outing is held in a dimly lit bar. The charm of Del Mar, Saratoga, and Arlington adds a necessary element of elegance to the occasion.
2- Speaking of elegance, patrons are encouraged to dress to the nines. No more of this “Am I too dressed up for this?” nonsense.

3- Luck is perpetually in the air at the track. If an “against all odds” relationship is destined to start, it should commence at a racetrack, of all places.
4- Your handicapping duties are twofold for the afternoon. Not only do you have the challenge of picking the winning ponies, but you’ll also spend a fair amount of time picking the “winning” special someone.
5- A person’s strategy for selecting a horse can reveal more about them than you’d think. The free spirited will pick the “suggestive” name in the race. The family man or woman will pick a trifecta with grandma’s birthday. Artsy folks gravitate toward the most fashionable silks. Meanwhile, the math whiz will have his nose buried in the past performances. There’s something for everyone!

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
6- If the conversation stalls, the track offers the ultimate bailout: people watching and commenting. Scan the room for five seconds and you’re bound the spot a hat or getup that can spark your chat back up. 
7- It’s all about new beginnings, both on the track and on this dating scene. You shouldn’t dwell on your near misses on the racetrack, nor should you worry about how it didn’t quite work out with others in the room. There’s always a fresh race and face right around the corner.
8- You won’t be able to resist sharing your success. Let’s face it, once you cash your first big ticket, you’ll be bragging to all of your friends and relatives. When you identify the perfect partner, you’ll have the same urge to show him or her off at the next family gathering.

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
9- The track reeks of romance, from the fresh flowers in the paddock, to the majestic nature of the Thoroughbred. If that isn’t nature’s love potion, then what is?
10-There’s an inherent risk of playing the ponies. Likewise, you’re taking a bit of gamble by hitting the speed-dating scene. But you’ll never know if you like it unless you give it a shot!