When it comes to handicapping, or the analysis to determine the outcome of a race, there’s no one right approach. Between the amount of available data and variety of ways it can be interpreted, you can count handicapping the races as a life long learning opportunity. For those about to handicap, we salute you!
Handicapping
If you're new to racing or just getting reacquainted with the game, this is the place to start. We provide overviews of all the basic topics you'll encounter regardless of whether your goal is to learn how to handicap or just enjoy a day at the races.
Want to know more about how to consider horses dropping down a level or what to look for when a horse is trying tougher company? This is your section!
Can the horse get the distance? Would a "cutback" in distance enhance their chances? We'll explore the many ways you can read a horse's chance when they encounter a distance change.
Understanding pace and how it can affect the race is a core handicapping skill. What are the likely pace scenarios and who could benefit from them? We'll help you figure out how to ask and answer these questions.
Is a trainer on a hot streak? Is there a bias developing in the track? Is the horse's work out pattern indicating anything? Patterns come in all shapes and sizes and we'll help you figure out how to identify them.
While the study of breeding and pedigree could warrant an entire site on its own, we'll focus on ways you study pedigree from a handicapping perspective.
The psychological aspects of the game can play as of a much a part of in your decision making process as the analytical aspects.
Does a horse need to lead or can they relax behind the pace? If they’re come from behind types, do they need a fast pace or can they close into slow fractions? These are issues of running style.
Every trade has its tools and handicapping is no different. From the straightforward past performance to the more advanced number crunching and data visualization tools, we'll help you make sense of each so you can decide what to use in your own arsenal.
Sometimes just looking at a horse can tell you much of what you need to know about their upcoming performance. We'll discuss what you can learn with your own two eyes from watching replays or looking at horses warming up.
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