OTB behaviour

[brockguy]

as a foreigner to the OTB scene, i found it very strange last year entering one for the first time. Everyone is generally friendly and easy to talk to and there is no end to tips from whatever the next race is on. I didn't mind the atmosphere, it was a bit like bookies back home. However, one thing was very very strange to me. the majority of players when the race started shouted for their number i.e. "come on 4! keep up there 4". I had never seen anything like it. I am used to either cheering the jockey or the horse, never ever the number. To me its seems like these guys wouldnt care what they were betting on as long as they could cheer a number.. Even when a top horse was racing (I remember there when Ashado destroyed the field by round 8L), it was still the same story of cheering the number rather than horse name or jockey. I know its a small point but as a fan of horses first and then handicapping i see it as somewhat odd!!