Racing Form? Check.

Coffee or similar caffeine drink? Check.

Pen? Check.

Good light? Check.

Lucky rabbit's foot (or substitute whatever is lucky for you for me it's my Wilt Chamberlain 76ers action figure)? Check.

Internet connection dialing up YouTube? Check.

WAIT! What was that last one?

Yes, YouTube (www.youtube.com), the popular video-sharing Web site has become a favorite sight for thoroughbred fans, not only to see classic races of the past, but as a handicapping tool.

The current YouTube favorite horse is the Steve Assmussen-trained Pyro, who makes his next start in the $600,000 Louisiana Derby this Saturday at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Pyro's last race, the Risen Star also run in New Orleans, has quickly become a favorite video on YouTube with Pyro's amazing stretch run.

Pyro, ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, trailed 10 horses at the top of the stretch, and had little running room. But unleashing a tremendous burst of speed with Bridgmohan weaving his mount first inside and then outside the field, Pyro not only managed to win, but won going away.

The thrilling finish quickly was posted on YouTube and caused quite a stir among race fans looking for the next possible Triple Crown star. The top four files of this race on YouTube now have more than 10,000 viewings for the race.

The information superhighway of the Internet seems a natural for the most informational driven sport, horse racing.

Almost all racetracks around the country now have their own Web sites, some even have live racing available on their sites. Many have race replays and all have some sort of promotional information.

You can find past performances on the Daily Racing Form (www.drf.com) or Equibase (www.equibase.com) sites, along with results within minutes from any racetrack.

Still if you're looking for pure fun, excitement and some genuine goose pimples, YouTube is the place to go.

Just this week I not only watched Pyro's victory in the Risen Star, but I watched six different victories by the great Seattle Slew, Cigar winning the Breeder's Cup and Dubai Classic, Ruffian demolishing a field in the 1975 Mother Goose. I even watched Nebraska's own Jack Van Berg's Alysheba winning the 1988 Breeder's Cup Classic in the doom, gloom and mud of Churchill Downs, heroically holding off Seeking the Gold the last two furlongs to finally win racing's biggest prize.

Dial up YouTube, check out Pyro's Risen Star victory, then start surfing for other great horses and their races. One bit of warning, though, your own personal handicapping might take a backseat to watching races of some of yesterday's and tomorrow's superstars.