Basic Handicapping
 
Handicapping Factors

It is time to take a few lessons in handicapping. The skilled bettor knows that there is more to picking a winner than the color of the jockey's or driver's silks. To figure out what will happen during a race and who will finish the race in front, a skilled bettor takes into consideration many key factors including the following:

The Driver or Jockey

Drivers and jockeys, like other athletes, possess varying amounts of ability. The skilled bettor knows which drivers are at the top of the class and some will place their bet based on the driver's record. The top drivers or jockeys are easy to spot. Being listed among the leaders in the program standings means that they have frequented the winners circle. These drivers or jockeys know how to strategically plan out a race and how and when to get their horse to give his all. Racetracks keep track of how a driver is doing for you. Next to his/her name, they list his/her statistics at the track you are wagering on.

Class of Horse

Class is the term applied to horses, is based on who can go faster and earn more money. Fast horses, which have won more money than their counterparts are, consider to be classy. Better horses or classy horses race for more money. That is why some races have higher purses. Identifying the purse is key to understanding the class of horses. If the purse for the race your are wagering on is less than what the horse raced for last time, he is dropping in class; conversely, if the current race purse is greater than he raced for last time, he's moving up in class. Horses dropping in class have an advantage because they have raced stronger horses in previous races.

Post Position

When trying to pick a winner, the horse's post position (starting position) is of great importance especially in standardbred racing. Being on the inside in standarbred racing (positions 1 - 4) is considered to be an advantage while starting from the outside (positions 5 - 8) is considered to be a disadvantage. A horse's starting position is determined by a draw. All drivers and jockeys strategically think out a tactical plan that will ultimately get them to the wire first. This plan becomes increasingly difficult for horses and driver/ jockeys who must start from a post position 5 - 8. In thoroughbred racing a race can be made or virtually lost by the way the horse breaks out of the gate. In standardbred racing when a horse is parked out, it is racing on the outside with a horse between him and the rail. Watch for horses that have been in lower post positions in their last starts that now move to a tougher outside starting position.

Past Performance or Form

A horse is an athlete and thus is subject to different performance levels at different times. Athletes and horses may tire, pull muscles, get sick, or just like us, have a bad day. Sharpness or Current Form is a term used to describe how well a horse has been performing. Your racing program shows each horses past performance records. It is your job to look for trends. A horse may be on the rise ready to take on the competition that was once out of reach. On the other hand, a horse may be tiring or is just worn out. Consistency in the horse's performance is the most outstanding characteristic to consider when picking a winner. Good horses are able to perform well week after week. In the program, past performances are listed as well as the track where the horse won has won, the fastest performances of the year, number of starts, wins, seconds, thirds and money won for this year and last. Watch for horses which show an ability to overcome racing on the outside, which can survive a tough battle on the lead and for horses that make up much ground in the stretch.