Since February, Sara Elbadwi, 27, has been working as an on-air handicapper and production assistant/research specialist for the television production team at the New York Racing Association. A native of Red Hook, N.Y., a small upstate town, Elbadwi’s on-desk appearances have taken place on NYRA’s “Talking Horses,” a handicapping show that precedes the day’s racing card. In fact, her first appearance on the show, in January, before she was hired, was part of her job interview.

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Elbadwi is also part of the team on “America’s Day at the Races,” which is produced by NYRA and airs nationwide on the networks of FOX. The hours-long telecast provides coverage and analysis of live racing at prominent racetracks around the country and features a broadcast team of handicappers and racing analysts.

Elbadwi was interviewed May 17, and her answers are edited for clarity and space.

BloodHorse: What drew you to racing initially; was there family involvement?

Sara Elbadwi: No family involvement, which I know is a very rare situation in racing. I grew up in a very small town, so the mother of my mother’s friend from high school would have Derby parties and parties for the other Triple Crown races as well. We would have a bunch of people get together because we all went to the same high school. Everyone would pick a number out of a hat and people would put a couple of dollars in so you would have some kind of rooting interest. The one [Kentucky Derby] that really stood out to me early on was Giacomo (2005) because everyone was really shocked with that huge upset.

As far as horses in general, I was always involved…took (riding) lessons growing up and ended up following through with that in high school. I ended up getting my bachelor’s degree in equine studies [Becker College in Massachusetts]. I’ve always been obsessed with horses.

BloodHorse: What were your next steps?

Elbadwi: I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do with this degree because getting out of school your options are very vast in terms of what you [can] specialize in the equestrian business, but not necessarily a lot in terms of being financially stable. I did some waitressing and bartending for a while as I figured out what I wanted to do. I also did some barn-related jobs on the side.

Then, one of my friends that I had brought to Saratoga a couple times, said, ‘You seem to know what is going on in racing.’ At the time I was watching [NYRA’s] “Talking Horses” and the “America’s Day at the Races” show, and really was following along as my own hobby. I started a Twitter account and threw a couple of opinions out there to see what would happen. And a lot happened.

This February was when I started [at NYRA], after working at Horse Racing Nation for a year [in various roles]. At NYRA, it’s cool to do a mix of [behind-the-scenes production] and occasional on-air appearances, which ultimately is where I want to end up in the future, but it’s nice to wade in slowly instead of being totally thrown to the wolves.

BloodHorse: Whom do you consider your primary mentors?

Andy Serling

Elbadwi: I have a lot of people to thank for where I am now in my career. I’ve spent a lot of time talking with Andy Serling [television analyst and handicapper at NYRA], who has been a really great mentor in terms of seeing past the surface of things as far as handicapping goes. It’s been great to develop my analysis through watching his and learning directly from him. I’m not as scared of him as some people are. He has a certain standard and expectation that really pushes me to do my absolute best.

My good friend Matthew DeSantis was the first person to have me on camera to talk about racing with a YouTube show he had. If it wasn’t for Matthew, I mean nobody would have really seen me for quite some time in front of the camera. I also have to mention Ed DeRosa at Horse Racing Nation who took a huge [chance] hiring a relative unknown.

BloodHorse: What has it been like working at NYRA?

Elbadwi: It’s kind of surreal because this is what I pictured as the endgame for my career because it’s a circuit that I followed so closely and it’s the company I wanted to end up at.

BloodHorse: What’s the most helpful feedback that you have received about your on-air work?

Elbadwi: I would say just to be confident in the opinions that I’m putting out there. I am not necessarily the most outgoing or outspoken person or the loudest in the room. Someone said to me before I was on the Fox show for the first time, ‘You have opinions and you’re confident in them, make sure that comes across on camera.’

BloodHorse: What’s your approach to handicapping?

Elbadwi: Big replay-watcher; I’m very interested in trying to see the things that are not on paper. I’m a Beyer Speed Figure user. To me it’s a tool that can guide you more than an absolute fact. I also spend a lot of time looking at trips and track biases, and pedigrees for first-time starters, horses switching surfaces, and distances. I try to look at a variety of factors.

BloodHorse: Do you have a particular type of race you like to handicap?

Elbadwi: I would say I do the best with maiden races. Horses that still can make major improvements and you can find some sort of potential and bet off of that versus really knowing already what these horses are.

BloodHorse: Do you wager? If so, what is your biggest score?

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Elbadwi: Oh, absolutely. I do quite a bit of betting. I hit a Pick 5 last year at Gulfstream Park on a $12 ticket and it ended up paying around, $4,600, $4,700.

BloodHorse: What advice would you give to someone looking to get a job handicapping?

Elbadwi: Just continue to put yourself out there, and be okay without being right all the time while also being able to learn from that. You’re going to be wrong a lot, and that’s normal. For anyone new to racing or putting their public opinions out there, it’s a lot. But it’s also really rewarding when you can take the time and learn more, and eventually you won’t be wrong as often.

BloodHorse: Speaking of ‘public opinions’ with regard to Twitter, what has your reception been like on that platform?

Elbadwi: It’s a mixed bag. I think that for the most part people have been overwhelmingly positive. On occasion, there’s a couple [of people] who won’t be quite as positive and I could allow that to ruin it for me. But there’s so much great feedback from people, both inside and outside of the industry, and I think that the main thing that I want to have respected about my work ethic is the fact that I really take the time with (handicapping) because it’s something I’m really passionate about. I think that comes through enough that I don’t have to worry about [the negativity].