By Sarah Schulz
sarah.schulz@theindependent.com

Print Story | e-mail Story | Visit Forums

Featured Advertiser

Independent/Scott Kingsley Mike Kadavy (right) studies the form for the second race at Fonner Park Friday while brother Matt (back left) and friend Gene Wilson confer. The Kadavy have made the annual trip for the horse racing since 1976. Lane Hickenbottom Independent/Lane Hickenbottom Jockey Mike Luark rides Pager (5) past Apache General on the home stretch to with the feature race Friday on a photo finish. Click Thumbnails to View

Those two facts led her to choose horses with the monikers AnticipatedArrival and Sue's Lil Roo in the second race of opening day at Fonner Park on Friday.

When it comes to picking horses to root for or bet on, everyone has their own system.

For some, like Conkling, it's all in a name. For others, it's the odds or professional opinions.

On Friday, Walt Walker stood at Fonner's large windows and watched the horses as they passed. He consulted his racing form a number of times as he decided which animal to back.

He said he researches the horses using the racing forms and also considers the length of each race.

Friday's short races had him thinking speed over endurance.

"Speed means everything in these races," he said.

He added that his son, Steve, is a national handicapping champion who won $100,000 in 2000.

"I'm not the one who taught him to go to the horse races," Walker said with a laugh.

Rosa Kelson also uses a form to make her decisions. She looks at the odds and thinks about the jockeys. She also considers who the trainers are, especially since she has gotten to know many of them during her time at Fonner Park.

She and a friend attend the races together, and she has learned a lot from him. But they don't often share their picks with one another before a race, she said.

"Because then if your horse doesn't come in, you feel bad," she said with a smile.

The racing form tips are the sole guide for Dick Renfrow.

"I go with his picks," he said of the form's expert. "I'm a rookie at it."

He attends live races at Fonner Park about twice a season and was already having luck Friday afternoon. He took the No. 2 horse in the first race and won, so he was following the form's pick in the second race as well.

"If you hear a lot of yelling, you'll know the No. 2 came in again," he said.

Live races at Fonner Park will continue every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through May 3.