Pace handicappers classify each horse's running style (i.e. front runner, stalker, presser, closer) and then find contenders based on the predicted pace of today's race. The difficulty is that the jockey has control over where a horse is placed in a race and how fast that race goes in the early stages.
How does a horse get a handicap rating?
Horses usually need to achieve a minimum of three performance figures – that is, have raced at least three times – in order to for us to translate these into an initial handicap rating. We produce performance figures for every horse in every race.
How do they handicap racehorses?
A handicap is a race where each horse is allocated a weight, according to its ability, in an attempt to equalise every horse's chance of winning. Handicaps are run on the flat and over jumps. Handicapping is based on the idea that the weight a horse carries ultimately affects the speed at which it will gallop.
How do horse ratings work?
Horses in the National Hunt have a rating of 0 to 170 and those in the Flat season have a rating of 0 to 140. The higher the rating, the higher the standard of race a horse can run in. What's more, a horse with a higher rating will have to carry more weight than one with a lower rating.
What does 3lb out of the handicap mean?
Also called “out of the handicap” – that means the horse is running off a handicap mark which is so far below the top rated horse in the race that they are below the minimum weight allowed for the race that their weight has been raised.
36 related questions foundWhy do horses get weight penalties?
Like other athletes, horses start racing before they are fully mature. When young horses race against their elders, they receive an allowance of weight to offset that immaturity. The weight-for-age scale dictates the allowance received by younger horses. It varies according to the time of year and race distance.
What does 6lb out of the handicap mean?
Beat The Boys, by the same method, should carry 9-8, but as the minimum racing weight for any national hunt horse is 10-0 (less any claim due to their rider) he actually carries 6lb too much. This is known as being 'out of the handicap'.
What does BM78 mean in horse racing?
Each of the stages below have different levels. For example a Saturday metro BM78 is a slightly higher class than a Thursday BM78. Maidens (3 - 4.5 rating) The lowest form of racing for the lowest prizemoney. Horses in these races have never won a race before.
What does RPR in horse racing mean?
RPR - Racing Post Rating (compiled by our private form handicapper), adjusted for that day's weights. TS - Topspeed.
What does BM stand for in horse racing?
Benchmark Races. A benchmark race is a Handicap race based on ratings. There is no upper or lower limit on eligibility. In simple terms, a benchmark race is open to all horses. The weights assigned to each entry relate to the benchmark rating assigned to the race.
Why do race horses carry weight?
In a horse handicap race (sometimes called just "handicap"), each horse must carry a specified weight called the impost, assigned by the racing secretary or steward based on factors such as past performances, so as to equalize the chances of the competitors.
How do I know if my horse is well handicapped?
Just take a look at how many of his 2YO have 3 runs over sprint trips , then come out and run up a sequence as 3YO over longer trips because they're so well handicapped. Study those 3 runs above for a second longer. Because usually the trainer wants one run to give him an idea if the horse has enough ability.
Who are the best horse racing handicappers?
Five Horseplayers to watch & improve your handicapping
- Nancy Holthus. Twitter: @NancyUryHolthus. ...
- Emily Gullikson. Twitter: @EmilyOptixEQ. ...
- Nicolle Neulist. Twitter: @rogueclown. ...
- Stars of the National Horseplayers Championship. Judy Wagner.
What does a horses official rating mean?
A horse earns its official rating when it has won a race or placed in the top six on three separate occasions. At this point the ratings are used to determine the handicaps of the horse for the rest of its running career.
What does class 1 mean in horse racing?
Class 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 – Class 1 races are lowest, restricted to horses who have won one race. Class 6 is for horses have won not more than six races. Restricted or Special Conditions - number of wins in the city or country, age, sex, prize money or colour (e.g. grey horses only) can be a 'special condition. '
Is higher RPR better?
Racing Post Ratings (RPR) are based on a horse's racing ability in relation to the weight carried i.e. if horse X beats horse Y carrying the same weight then it is awarded a higher rating. The ratings are expressed in pounds (lb) so a horse rated 140 is regarded as 10lb better than one rated 130.
What does Aw mean in horse racing?
AW in this case means 'all-weather', indicating that the race is being run on their synthetic surface and not on turf. Polytrack is the specific type of surface made up of sand and synthetic fibres. This sort of track is relatively fast, akin to good or good-to-firm ground on grass.
What does 0 mean on horse form?
0. Finished outside the top 9. P. Pulled up (reined in as horse may be too tired/injured, or horse may just stop running) F.
What does SWP mean in horse racing?
Set Weights & penalties Set Weights and Penalties (SWP) is a race where the handicapper has no discretion as to what the weight is carried by each horse.
What does 2lb out of the handicap mean?
Thus, if a horse rated 45 was entered for the race, its rating would merit carrying 8st 1lb, or 1lb lower than the minimum weight applicable. Such a horse can compete, but must carry 1lb more than its 'true' handicap mark, and is said to be racing from '1lb out of the handicap'.
Is the Grand National a handicap race?
The Grand National is a handicap race, with weights ranging upward to 12 stone 7 pounds (175 pounds). The weights, the distance, and the big jumps demand horses of prodigious strength and stamina and usually of more than normal size.
How heavy is the average jockey?
The weight of a jockey usually ranges from 108 to 118 lb (49 to 54 kg). Despite their light weight, they must be able to control a horse that is moving at 40 mph (64 km/h) and weighs 1,190.5 lb (540.0 kg). Though there is no height limit for jockeys, they are usually fairly short due to the weight limits.
What is a 5lb penalty?
In horse racing, a 'penalty' is additional weight, say, 5lb or 7lb, imposed on a horse for winning a race under certain circumstances. Details of such penalties are listed in the race conditions and, in some cases, are imposed on horses that have won a race, or races, above a certain value in a certain timeframe.
Do all jockeys have to weigh the same?
To make sure that it does so, all jockeys must weigh out before a race to make sure they and their kit (including the saddle) are the right weight. If a jockey is lighter than the weight the horse has to carry, the difference will be made up by thin lead weights in a special saddle cloth.
