What Not to Do at the Breeders’ Cup

Ever wonder what conduct you should avoid at the Breeders' Cup for the sanity of yourself and others? Mike Curry has made a handy list of what not to do that will help you have a good time at the Breeders' Cup and keep your friends from disowning you by the end of the weekend.
1. Don’t drop half of your bankroll on the first Breeders' Cup race on Friday’s card. Or, even worse, lose a substantial chunk of your weekend funds on the undercard races on Friday. Manage your money wisely.
2. Don’t ignore the weather. If it rains, that is extremely important for both main track and grass races. Check the weather forecast and be prepared to adjust.
3. Don’t bet on all gray horses just because they are so pretty, which they are.

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
4. Don’t dismiss the European invaders. Turf racing is what it’s all about in Europe. Trainers from Ireland, England and France ship in for the Breeders' Cup and are very successful. If anything, consider those horses even more so given the fact that their connections were willing to ship across the globe for one race.
5. Don’t forget to bring a pen ... and a backup ... and gum if you are planning to eat a sandwich with extra onions. Seriously!
6. Don’t ignore the way the track is playing. If speed has been holding up all day, you don’t want to be married to a deep closer you fell in love with while handicapping on Wednesday.
7. Don’t scream at the jockey for what you perceived to be a bad ride. For God’s sake they have one of the toughest jobs in the world: guiding a 1,200-pound animal around an oval with up to 13 other horses while running at speeds of more than 37 mph. Cursing them under your breath is much more acceptable.
MAKING FACES LIKE THE GUY ON THE RAIL IS OKAY, JUST DON'T YELL WHILE MAKING THEM!

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
8. Don’t confuse every race for a bad beat. Having the distant runner-up and the fifth-place finisher does not equal just missing a trifecta. It is, however, OK and therapeutic to lament with friends after coming out on the wrong side of a head bob.
9. Don’t bet on a horse solely because he’s looked great in the mornings or because of glowing clocker reports. Clocker information can be very useful, but if a horse lacks the talent of the opposition, it doesn’t matter how well he or she is training.
10. Don’t knock back a six-pack before the first race. The Breeders’ Cup cards require stamina. You don't want to be slurring your words at the betting window, placing the wrong bets, and standing in line all day for the bathroom. Pace yourself so you have enough left in the tank to celebrate when your big longshot comes through.
DON'T BE LIKE THIS GUY BY THE END OF THE DAY

Photo by WikiMedia Commons/M
11. Don’t be afraid to focus on a handful of horses that you like best over the Breeders’ Cup races. Build your bets around your top picks so that if they win, so will you.
12. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Lighten up, it’s supposed to be fun.
13. Don’t abandon your pick in a race because you get a hot tip. Most times, the “expert” divulging the insider insight is some schlep who doesn’t know any more than you do. But if they can recommend a good local restaurant or bar, that's a different story.

14. Don’t turn your nose up at the $2 show bettor. Chances are they are just as big a racing fan as you are and probably having more fun.
15. If it’s been a rough day, don’t try to make it all back on the last race with a trip to the ATM. It’s called the racetrack walk of shame for a reason.
16. Don’t be that guy/gal who dances around waving a wad of cash in everyone’s faces after a victory. It’s OK to celebrate a big win, but twerking a wad of cash is in poor taste.