Our Fonner feature story this week is on Todd Otto and his role in simulcasting at Fonner Park.

One of the most important facets of playing simulcast races is to remember the Judy Garland mantra from "The Wizard of Oz" and truly find a simulcast home.

When races are brought in to Grand Island from basically every racing corner of the United States, a patron can get lost in the wide menu of racing. While the selection is nice, it's best to have one particular race track that you can have for your cornerstone or your home.

I'm not going to tell you, which track is best for your home, but for me during the winter and spring months, it's Tampa Bay Downs. I like Tampa Bay because it's a track where you know the weather will be decent, races have full fields, there are some outstanding trainers, good horses and a strong jockey colony.

Other people might be more inclined to follow the races this time of year at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., or Santa Anita in California. Both are great racetracks with huge followings.

However, you can't be an expert or even pretend to be one at every racetrack.

As much attention as I pay to racing, I must confess I pay very little attention to California racing.

When I'm asked who I like at Santa Anita, I usually say, "I haven't the foggiest." Maybe I should change that to "I haven't the smoggiest" in honor of Southern California, but at least I'll have an opinion on the racing that I follow in Tampa, Fonner, New York, or gulp, Ohio.

Where ever you choose for your home base, try and find out who the top trainers and riders are on your circuit. Quite often the top riders ride for the top trainers and that's why they win more races.

Also, pay special attention to how races are won at your favorite track. Does it seem that horses that break on or near the lead win more than horses coming from farther back? Or do horses come from the clouds to win at your particular racetrack?

As you get proficient with your home racetrack, certain horses will become familiar to you. Use these horses to compare with the abilities of other horses you're not so familiar with.

Most of all, have fun. One of the great things about the simulcasts is the feeling that you're actually somewhere else. With the high price of traveling these days, you can at least pretend to be visiting Florida or California in the winter.

Randy Monk covers horse racing for the Grand Island Independent