Do you have family coming in from out of town that you just aren’t sure how to keep busy over the holidays? Maybe you can send the off to the racetrack for an afternoon of fun and excitement. Today’s guest post provides a great alternative from the usual sight-seeing activities for those who have tracks near their homes..and it’s an entertaining outing for folks of all ages.
Having young children in the house, it’s always good to find a new place to take them for a day out; especially if it means that they can get some fresh air and see something that they’re interested in at the same time. If you have animal-mad children, you’ve likely done lots of trips to petting zoos and farms, but have you ever thought about taking them to see the races?
A day out at the races is great fun whatever age you are. And you don’t have to go to a major event like the Kentucky Derby; there are plenty of local horse (or even dog) race tracks wherever you live. If you have young children, it’s even better if you can time your trip to coincide with a family day, where as well as being able to watch the races themselves, there’s plenty of extra entertainment laid out for the kids. You’ll often find things like bouncy castles, carousels, and games that the kids can enjoy when they’ve had enough of watching the horses.
photo credit: Bob Jagendorf via photopin cc
The main attraction, of course. is to see the horses in action. If you have school-age kids, you can even teach them a little math while you’re there, by placing a few small bets on the different races. It’s unlikely that kids will be overly interested in or understand the odds, though. They’re generally more likely to choose the horse’s name they like the best!
Going to the races in the spring or summer can be a lovely way to spend a day, but during the winter, you and the kids may be less likely to spend the day outside. Unless you’re visiting Florida or another warm climate, which means you can visit the races year round. Or you may have to seek out race tracks where you can view the races from the warmth of an indoor viewing deck.
But if you’ve had the chance to get familiar with horse races in the past and developed an interest in the sport, you can still follow big racing events around the world on the TV and online. And you can always place your bets at www.betfair.com, the world’s biggest online betting exchange.
What sort of “off the beaten path” activities do you like to do with your family or recommend to people when they come to visit you? We’re big mini-golf fans and also like to check out local nature trails or go geocaching when we have the chance.
