Night School, the racing industry’s free national online fan education program, offers a long-form video lesson this Tuesday night entitled “Playing the Toteboard” in which horseplayers will learn the best ways to shop. The 50-minute video will encompass a thorough discussion on seeking value and how to use the wagering pools to your advantage. It’s the 18th of 40 lessons on the 2013 Night School calendar, and the video will be followed by a Q&A session as well as a preview of Sunday’s historic Queen’s Plate from Woodbine.

As always, Night School gets underway at 8:30 p.m. ET and spans 90 minutes. Tuesday’s session will be co-hosted by the program’s co-founders Joe Kristufek and Jeremy Plonk of Horse Player NOW. Special guest John Siscos, senior manager of communications for Woodbine, also will take part in the Q&A as well as help preview Canada’s kickoff to the Triple Crown, the 154th running of the Queen’s Plate. The Night School Tour traveling troupe of fan educators will be at Woodbine this Sunday providing hands-on fan education in the Walking Ring area, including Kristufek, Plonk, Caton Bredar and Tim Brannan.

The “Playing the Toteboard” video features a four-way discussion, among Horse Player NOW’s Kristufek, Plonk, Bredar and Brian Nadeau with specific graphical illustrations and examples, as well as strategies and approaches from the quartet. This week’s downloadable study materials for Night School includes further tote-watching tips from renowned Thoroughbred and Harness handicappers Bob Neumeier, Michael Beychok, T.J. Burkett, Pat Cummings, Frank Mirahmadi and Brad Free.

Fans can take part in the class free by visiting any one of the 40-plus websites that provides the Night School lessons each week. For those who cannot attend live, the Night School archives always are available free, immediately following the session and beyond. Videos used in all lessons also can be seen at www.youtube.com/horseplayernow.

Presenting title sponsors for Night School are the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, American Quarter Horse Association, Keeneland, Churchill Downs, Inc., and the United States Trotting Association.

Night School is offered every Tuesday for 40 consecutive weeks through Dec. 3. Topics change weekly, and fans are eligible for prizes and rewards for registering. Registration is optional and free. There is never a charge for taking part in Night School. The weekly program is offered in three media: live chat via the Cover It Live, live blogging/chat forum, audio/radio streaming and full video lesson plans. The media of delivery is based on the subject matter and alternates throughout the season.

This week’s Night School will be followed at 10:00 p.m. ET by the “After Night School Special,” featuring live racing from Mountaineer Park. The segment will cover the evening’s final race in real time with free, live-streaming video. Fans wishing to take part in the Mountaineer action simply need to remain in the Night School chat after class. Free past performances are available, courtesy of BRIS.

Night School fans will be treated to two additional handicapping chats this week with a Big Event handicapping preview of Calder’s Summit of Speed taking place Friday night at 8:30 p.m. ET. Join Caton Bredar and special guests for that one, along with some free past performances from BRIS. And on Sunday, Woodbine’s full-card of action on Queen’s Plate Day will include an all-day live chat beginning at noon ET, hosted by Brian Nadeau. The Queen’s Plate chat will be presented at Horseplayernow.com and Woodbineracetrack.com sites only. The Summit of Speed preview chat will be offered at all Night School websites.

The Night School Tour of on-track handicapping and wagering seminars begins a wild July this Sunday at Woodbine. Other July visits include Colonial Downs (July 13), Del Mar (July 17) and Monmouth (July 28), the latter part of the America’s Best Racing “Racing 101” fan hub. (Updated Night School Tour schedule: http://horseplayernow.com/10-night-school/5-night-school-tour).

This week’s study materials, a beginner’s guide to wagering, courtesy of Horse Player NOW: http://horseplayernow.com/images/STUDY070213.pdf

Joe Kristufek and Jeremy Plonk preview this week’s lesson on video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueovb6-M5eo&feature=share&list=UUA7ZtzZQ_V1HR0kOY9F9RYQ

Pod 3 Lesson Schedule: http://horseplayernow.com/images/2013NSCALENDAR3.pdf