Dec 22 '13 at 13:53
My strategy for going to the races with my kid: bring two fold-up camp chairs and a six-pack cooler over the shoulder with appropriate beverages in cans (glass NOT allowed). Stake out a spot near the jockey's clubhouse where you can watch the mud-covered riders and Sam the Bugler signing autographs between races. This location is also convenient to a large betting area, the food concessions and the grandstand entrance; we generally go in at post time to watch the races from the rail. The first race is usually something quirky and hard to bet on intelligently, so don't worry if you're a bit late. On the other hand, if you want to get the free parking (vs just walking from town) and cash in on the occasional freebies, the earlier the better.
