Handicapping 101

Experienced bettors believe that a horse’s past performance indicates how it will perform in a race. By scanning a horse’s previous race results, you might be able to pick a winner too.

However, because it’s not an exact science, no horse is a sure bet. Especially if you’re just starting out. Handicapping is both an art and a science that takes years to master. As well as a little luck. Thankfully, each track has a number of professional handicappers who publish their favorite picks for each race.

If you still want to give your brain a workout, consider the following factors:

Fitness

Just like us, horses don’t run their best if they’re not in top shape. Look for recent run dates or morning workouts.

Class

What class of competitors has the horse raced against in the past? If it barely competed against weaker competition, it may not be able to hang with the speed demons.

Distance

Most horses run well either under a mile or over a mile, but not at both. Consider a horse if it has run well at the distance being run for the current race.

Post position

Outside post positions (10 and up) sometimes make it a little harder for a horse to win.

Running style

A horse is either a pace-setter (races out in front), a stalker (in the middle) or a closer (comes from behind). A race with only a few pace-setters makes one of them an attractive pick. Choose a stalker if there are too many pace-setters and no closers. If there are a lot of pace-setters, they might spend all their energy trying to outrace each other. This makes a stalker a good, though still risky, bet.

Trainer

Pay attention to the trainer. A good trainer might be able to give even a mediocre horse a slight advantage. Can anyone say horse whisperer?

Jockey

Better riders are at the top of the leader boards for good reason. They know magic. Okay, maybe not. But don’t underestimate the importance of skill of who’s in the saddle.

Present form

Horses tend to enter a period of peak performance, then gradually fade. If a horse’s recent races show a decline in performance, it may no longer be at its peak.

Consistency

When good recent history complements consistency, you’ve got a quality pick. Make sure a horse’s last win wasn’t a fluke. Every once in a while, a Hail Mary pass works in football. The same fluke can happen with a run on the track.

Weight

Even handicappers argue amongst themselves whether or not 10 lbs makes a difference on a horse weighing more than 1000 lbs. If you believe it does, it’ll be more of a factor in longer races.

Speed figures

A horse’s past performance can be reduced to speed figures. Variables such as running times and track conditions determine these numbers. They can be helpful, but only when used with other factors.