If you’re interested in handicapping a horse race, you need to know all of the factors that affect a horse’s performance. These factors include Weights, Performance, and Allowance. Using these factors will help you to determine which horses are best and which ones should be avoided. By following these tips, you’ll be able to win your next bet.
Handicapping
Handicapping a horse race involves analyzing past performance and predicting future results. Many factors go into the process, and no one system is sure to work every time. The Official Rating is a good way to use previous performances to determine a horse’s chances of winning.
Weights
When you are betting on a horse race, one of the most important things to know is the weight carried by the horses. Each horse is allocated a specific weight based on its official rating and the race rules. This weight is usually made up of the jockey’s weight and additional weights placed in the saddle bag. The total weight carried by the horses is normally listed in pounds and stones, but it is usually abbreviated for ease of reading. You can see how much weight is carried by each horse in the table below.
Performance
In horse racing, one of the key factors determining a horse’s performance is age. Horses who start younger tend to finish faster, while those that start older tend to be slower. However, both factors are closely related. During their first year of racing, horses can improve by nearly twenty points in their speed figures. As they age, their speed figures decrease by an average of one point per year.
Allowance
Allowance races are non-claiming races in which horses are not eligible to claim. Weight allowances are determined by the racing secretary based on the types of victories and purse earnings of previous runners. An allowance horse cannot claim unless other horses scratch out. Another term for an allowance race is a sweepstakes. The winning owner sweeps the entry fees of all other horses into his or her purse.
Harness racing
Harness racing is a highly specialized form of horse racing that takes place across North America and Europe. In some countries, this sport is a devoted pastime, and a grand prix event can bring prizemoney of over AUD one million. Traditionally, harness races have taken place at smaller tracks, but in more recent years, improvements in facilities have allowed harness races to be held at world-class venues.
Stakes races
Stakes races in horse racing are races that are open to specific breeds and states. To be eligible for a stakes race, a horse must be born in the state or be by a specific stallion. The rules and regulations for these races are strict. For example, California-bred stakes are only open to horses born in California, while New York-bred stakes are limited to horses by a specific stallion. Finally, Pennsylvania-bred stakes require that a horse be native to the state of Pennsylvania.
Graded stakes committee
A graded stakes horse race is a thoroughbred race that is graded by a committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. The committee assigns a grade level to a race based on statistical analysis and past performance, as well as if the race meets certain purse criteria. The Jockey Club of Canada also maintains a grading system. In many ways, this system is similar to Group races in Europe, although it is much more dynamic in North America.