'Why Racing?' with Brian DiDonato

As part of a new series, we asked a number of people not born into racing families why they got into the sport, and what their first racing memory was.

BRIAN DiDONATO, Racing Editor, Thoroughbred Daily News & Managing Partner, Franklin Ave. Equine

My earliest racing memory is like a lot of peoples'–it was going to Saratoga with my parents as a kid as something else to do during vacations to Lake George. I remember having fun there, and trying to pick winners based on the jockeys' and trainers' names and all that, but I didn't get really into it until college.

I had a couple of friends at school who liked to gamble like I did, and since we weren't 21 yet and couldn't go to the nearby casinos, we'd drive after class (never during…) some 45 minutes to the closest OTB and play the night tracks. I remember watching a then up-and-coming Fabulous Strike romp in some race at Mountaineer or Penn National when I probably should've been back at the dorm doing just about anything else. Studying the races was way, way more interesting than what I was studying in school, and I immersed myself in learning the art and science of handicapping whenever I had free time. Rather than looking for an internship at a law firm or wherever else I might have during the summer between my junior and senior years, I contacted NYRA about internship opportunities. I was lucky enough–still not entirely sure how–to get a job working for Fran LaBelle in the press box at Saratoga. I saw new parts of the sport and industry, and actually got within 30 feet of a horse, and that's when I knew for sure that my hobby was something I wanted to try to make a career out of.

Unfortunately I graduated in 2009 right after the financial crisis, and searched for a full-time job for probably a year–both in and out of racing–before finally landing a gig at the TDN. I still didn't know for a while if a lifelong career in racing was viable, and my parents continued for years to beg me to apply to law school, but every time I contemplated looking for opportunities in other fields I just couldn't bring myself to leave racing. It's just too exciting and too mentally stimulating. There's always something to watch, or root for, or bet on. I've since started doing my own bloodstock/stable management stuff, and can't imagine ever doing anything else and hope I'll never have to. Now instead of asking me to apply to law school, my parents ask how the horses are doing, as they've gotten very into racing as well and have become owners along with me.

I just hope that the industry moves towards a correctly priced betting product that can compete in the current landscape–not just for the obvious reasons, but also because it'll help bring in new fans/bettors who will later become industry participants like I and so many others have.