Night School, the racing industry’s national online fan education program since 2011, rings the bell on its all-new “Summer Semester” tonight with a fresh approach to its teaching curriculum. The 12-week Summer Semester, held weekly at the same Tuesday, 8:30-10 p.m. ET timeslot, will include live teaching during the live racing action presented at Mountaineer Park.

In the wake of exposed interest in racing through the Triple Crown series, the Summer Semester teaching theme kicks off with an appropriate  “Newbie Tuesday” focus in which the basics of the game will be explained in-depth this evening between live races.

During the Summer Semester, horseplayers can gather to dissect the free BRIS past performances provided each week, while watching the free live streaming video presented by the host track. Night School instructors and weekly special guests will help explain the action, divulge handicapping insights in real time and interact socially with the students taking part in the online live chats.

The free Night School program is offered online each Tuesday, beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET and runs 40 consecutive weeks through Dec. 2. More than 40 websites in the Thoroughbred, American Quarter Horse and Standardbred industries simultaneously offer the Night School lessons. Title sponsors for 2014 include charter members National Thoroughbred Racing Association and American Quarter Horse Association, as well as Keeneland Select, The Stronach Group, Twinspires, BRIS, Bet America, Mountaineer Park and Woobine Entertainment.

The 2014 Night School season is broken into three semesters. The Spring Semester ran 14 weeks, from March 4 until Belmont Stakes Week on June 3. A corresponding Fall Semester will be offered Sept. 2 through Dec. 2. Both the Spring and Fall semesters will feature a minimum of 11 SiriusXM simulcasts, in addition to select, major racing event live handicapping chats between the fans and experts. Night School is free and voluntary with no registration necessary. Simply visit any of the Night School syndicate websites weekly at 8:30 pm ET to take in the live lesson, or access the archives at any of those same sites at your leisure. The program does offer a voluntary registration both live or in the archives. Attendees who register in at least half (20) of the season’s lessons are eligible to win prizes that include merchandise, NHC Tour memberships, handicapping contests, free handicapping products, etc.

Summer Semester Teaching Themes Each Week During the Live Racing Action

June 10 – Newbie Tuesday                     July 15 – Handicapping Angles  Aug 19 – Toteboard Clues

June 17 – Money Management               July 22 – Marking PPs               Aug 26 – Watching Races/Trips

June 24 – Class & Race Conditions        July 29 – Pedigree Handicapping

July 1 – Pace Handicapping                   Aug 5 – Following TV Analysts

July 8 – Numbers & Stat                         Aug 12 – Visual Handicapping

Night School has added “Woodbine Wednesdays” to the weekly tutorial offerings. The full-card live chats teach racing in real time and spotlight the entire, 8-race cards each Wednesday night, beginning at 6:15 p.m. ET – also with free BRIS past performances each week.

Night School Links

Horse Player NOW info page: http://horseplayernow.com/night-school

Week 15 BRIS past performances for live teaching lessons: http://horseplayernow.com/nightpps

Summer Semester Topics & Program Info: http://horseplayernow.com/images/SEASON%204%20NIGHT%20SCHOOL%20RELEASE2.pdf

Video overview of the 2014 season with Caton Bredar and Jeremy Plonk: http://youtu.be/m5CP4LwmFZY