If you want to end a day at the races with more money than you started with, a betting strategy is a must. Start by budgeting how much you're going to wager on the day's races, with money set aside for food and beverages.
Some handicappers like to earmark a certain amount for each race or for their best bet of the day.
Gates open at 11 on race days. Look over the entire nine-race card before you start studying individual races. Devote the most study time to races that you find most interesting. If a race is hard to decipher or it's a small field and the logical winner is likely to be a heavy favorite, skip the race and save your money for a more promising race. It's easy to get emotional, and good money management is the only way to avoid betting too much on the wrong races.