Must have apps for a day at the races

Going to one of the big horse race tracks in the UK is a great way to spend a day out. Not only do you see some superb racing, but you’ll also have plenty of time to people watch and enjoy great food and drink while you’re there. A day at the races is an ideal choice for a big group to spend time together, as one thing race courses always have is plenty of space and plenty of hospitality – in the form of different bars and restaurants.

Having the focus of a big race such as the Grand National or the Cheltenham Gold Cup will add to the atmospheric nature of the day, but even if you go to a smaller course, when a less important race is going on, you’ll still have a great time.

So what apps should you make sure you have downloaded before you head to the races?

If you are going to the races and you’re pretty likely to want to bet on the horse races that you’ll be watching; it certainly adds to the fun and excitement of watching a race when you’ve got some cash riding on the result. The quickest and easiest way to get bets placed is to use a mobile betting app.

All the major bookmakers and betting sites have put a lot of investment into getting their mobile apps working at an optimal level, so it’s easier than ever for punters to get a bet on, either before or during any busy racing schedule. As well as saving you the hassle of having to queue up at one of the betting stands located in the betting ring at a racecourse, you’ll most likely get better odds when you bet online. That’s because in the betting ring, though the prices are competitive thanks to the fact that you have a number of bookies competing side by side for customers, they all display their best price with ‘fixed odds betting’. This means you’ll only get the odds that are on display at the time you place your bet. While that’s fine for the moment you secure your bet, the odds may change significantly before the race actually gets under way, so betting on your mobile means you can leave placing bets to the last moment, when there may be a chance of getting a bigger price.

You may also want to download a racing journal app. These will enable you to consult racing cards, check on a horse’s racing colours, and read up on a particular horse’s form before you decide whether to bet on them or not. Of course, there’s nothing to stop you just backing the name of the horse you like the most, or the racing colours you like the most.

Another app you should have at the ready is a weather app. Obviously, you’re going to be outside and even in the middle of summer, British weather can be unpredictable. But if you can check on what the weather’s going to do while you’re there, you can pick the right moments to seek shelter – getting lunch during a rainy period of time, for example.

Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, there are always moments of downtime, where it can be handy to have a game or two ready to play. Of course, most smartphone users will have their favourite games installed already, but if you think that your mobile internet connection will be patchy, make sure you’ve got some decent games that can be played offline, too. If nothing else, they’ll be handy for the journey at the beginning and the end of the day.