A Guide to the Races: New Year's Day at Exeter Racecourse

If you've ever been to Exeter Racecourse you'll know that a day watching and betting on horses is like no other. The buzz of the crowd, the speed of the competitors and the adrenaline rush you get from placing a bet all combine to create an event that's entertaining for everyone involved.

In fact, such is the appeal of racing that it's now become a tradition for thousands in and around the local area on New Year's Day. Known as one of the most popular meetings in the UK, the Exeter Racecourse New Year's Day meeting offers a way for serious punters and casual fans to enjoy a day of top-class racing in Devon.

Of course, if you want to make the most of any event, regardless of where it is, it's always best to be prepared. Having some idea of what you're getting yourself into before you join the action is the best way to ensure you have the best experience possible.
For example, if you've never been to an event before it pays to go online and visit a bookmaker such as 32Red UK to see the odds you're dealing with. For example, at the meeting at Kempton on Boxing Day, the favourite in the 12:50 is noted at a price of 13/8 at the time of writing.

If you're not familiar with the fractional notation system common in the racing world, the number on the left is the amount you stand to win when you bet the amount on the right. So, in the example from Kempton, you stand to win £13 when you bet £8 on the favourite. It's also common to see SP on certain races. This basically means the odds haven't been set and you're happy to take the best odds available at the start of the race.

As you can see, there are a few nuances to learn before you go betting. However, if you visit a virtual bookmaker beforehand you can at least get some idea of the sights you'll see before you visit somewhere such as Exeter Racecourse for the first time. Of course, racing is more than odds, so here's a list of things every first-time race-goer should do before they head of to Exeter Racecourse for a day of racing.

Know the Dress Code

"Picnic at Ascot, Berkshire, UK" (CC BY 2.0) by rahuldlucca

When casual fans think of horse racing, they automatically picture Royal Ascot, men in posh suits and women in fancy hats. However, not all racing events are like that and if you're planning on going to the New Year's Day event at Exeter you'll probably want to wear something warm.

Because the organisers at Exeter's racecourse understand that the weather probably won't be the best on January 1, they don't adopt a formal dress code at the gate. As long as you look smart, comfortable and warm they'll welcome you with open arms come race day.

Check Out the Stats

"Totalizator" (CC BY 2.0) by  markhillary

As we've mentioned, going online and visiting an online bookmaking site such as 32Red, bet365 or Titan is a great way to familiarise yourself with the odds. Not only that, but these betting platforms will also offer you expert advice on which horses are in form and which ones aren't.

Because the bookmaking community want to ensure everyone has the best chance to make money, they will employ a network of experts to preview the biggest races of the day. Therefore, if you're planning on visiting the New Year's Day event at Exeter, it makes sense to go online beforehand and check out what the experts have to say.

Don't Take it Too Seriously

"DSC_1249" (CC BY 2.0) by bradfordst219

As we've hinted at throughout this guide, horse racing is, above all else, fun and you should hold the event in that regard. If you can take some time out to do some research online and then combine this with a sensible budget on the day, you should be able to attend the New Year's Day event (or any meeting) confident and relaxed which, in turn, allows you to have a more entertaining time.

Although it's nice to win, horse racing is about more than that and this is something you need to remember before you purchase your tickets. Hopefully this guide has given you a few pointers on how to get the most out of your first trip to Exeter racecourse and, if you're planning on heading to an event in 2016, we hope you have a fantastic time.

Main image: "horses racing" (CC BY 2.0) by rogerblake2