Lots of people dream of attending the Arkansas Derby and leaving thousands of dollars richer than when they arrived.  Imagine scoring with a few key, well-placed bets and raking in the dough.  You know the money’s there, and Oaklawn Park is just waiting for you to come on in and take it on home with you.

Yeah, Oaklawn’s waiting, all right.  They’re waiting for you to bring them all your money and leave with barely enough gas in the tank to get yourself back home.

But it’s not all bad news.  In fact, there’s a lot of good news when it comes to having a great day on April 11 at the prestigious Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn.  This is why we want to share our tips on:

How to come out on top at the 2015 Arkansas Derby

Tip 1: Before you even leave the house, decide on the amount of money you will use for betting on races.  Whether it’s $10, $50, $100 or $1,000, stick to that amount, no matter what.

Tip 2: Resolve that when your pool of betting money is gone, you’re done.

Tip 3: If you’re going to try to bet intelligently, get a Daily Racing Form and check the past performances of horses in the race(s) you’re betting on.  Horses that look like they’ve really been doing well will be safer bets than ones with jockeys whose silks colors you like or animals that look “frisky” when meandering out of the paddock.

Tip 4: Longshots rarely win.  Favorites often do but don’t pay very much.  Understand and accept this.

Tip 5: Take a look around you at the crowd in the stands.  You’re not looking at winners.  Don’t let their feigned excitement influence you into thinking that something really good is going on here.

Tip 6: Be aware that the track is in business to MAKE money, not lose it.  Who do you think paid for that uncomfortable seat you’re sitting in?  Who paid for the scoreboard?  Who’s paying the salary of the cashier with whom you place your bets?  Not the track, that’s for damn sure.

Tip 7: If you run out of your allotted money, try borrowing some more from your spouse.  If you’re a spouse, don’t give any money to your partner if they run out.

Tip 8: Smarter individuals than you have been coming up with systems to beat the track since before you were born.  None of them have worked.  Don’t think you’re going to review the program and racing form and suddenly come up with something brilliant.

Tip 9: The reason you can’t beat the track is because you don’t know what each horse is thinking.  A horse is going to do what he or she wants to do, regardless of the hype and predictions surrounding a race.  Horses, like people, have good and bad days.  The difference is, a horse never loses his shirt at a racetrack.

The most important tip is this one:  Tip 10: Go to the Arkansas Derby and have a lot of fun!  Enjoy yourself with friends and family.  Eat some cool food.  Have a drink or two.  Take in the beautiful surroundings.  Cheer for your horse – and curse him when he comes in fourth.  And when it’s time to leave, bring back a really great memory of a super day.

THAT’S how to come out on top at the 2015 Arkansas Derby.

Nick & Ellie