The Daily Racing Form sponsors free handicapping seminars at Siro's (168 Lincoln Ave, west of the track entrance) every racing day except Monday at 10:30. Come early for a good seat, especially if the weather is threatening, as only a few seats are under cover. You can buy breakfast from Siro's but it's not required. Bring your Racing Form (available the day before at Barnes and Noble and newstands) or other sheets if you want to keep track of the handicappers’ picks. Harvey Pack, who did the New York Racing Association broadcasts for nearly 20 years, hosts the seminars in his own inimitable style. He and the featured guest handicappers, a variety of nationally syndicated racing columnists, cover the day’s card. In between, they take humorous shots at each other. Steve Crist, publisher of the Daily Racing Form and author of Betting on Myself: Adventures of a Horseplayer and Publisher is a frequent participant. A lot of useful background information about horses, riders and trainers make these seminars worthwhile as well as entertaining, even if you don’t follow the experts’ picks. The seminars are also televised locally on Channel 12, which specializes in racing programming.
Channel 12 is also the place where you can watch NYRA’s pre-race broadcast, which covers any program changes such as scratches, rider changes and other key information. This information is also provided on a board inside the clubhouse and over the betting windows. Saratoga is an excellent place to focus on a new aspect of horseracing and to learn something more about handicapping – you’ll be going up against the most dedicated horse players in the country here.