What is Horse Race or Thoroughbred Handicapping?
HANDICAPPING
The term "handicap" stems from the medieval lottery contest known as "hand in cup." It was called so because participants would place their bets in a cup.
Handicapping refers to two different things in sports. In the first type of handicapping, an experienced player is put at a disadvantage so as to make it easier for weaker players to compete with them. This practice levels the field and gives everyone a fair chance to win.
The other type of handicapping is the attempt to predict the winner of a sports competition for the purpose of betting on them. In this article we are concerned only with this type of betting. In particular, horse race betting.
Thoroughbred Handicapping is the term applied to horse race handicapping in particular. Let us look briefly at how Thoroughbred Handicapping works.
HORSE RACE OR THOROUGHBRED HANDICAPPING
Below is a step-by-step breakdown of Thoroughbred Handicapping:
- STUDY OF THE HORSE RACE TRACK DATA. This information is found in a Daily Racing Form. It is the handicapper's main tool and contains valuable data about the racing horses such as track records, betting odds and winnings.
- STUDY OF THE HORSES. Handicappers can assess a horse's condition and predict its performance judging by its look and behavior prior to a race. Key areas are the ears and the tail.
- STUDY THE ODDS. Just like with boxing, handicappers and horseplayers want to know what others think. The odds for each horse can change during the time leading up to the race.
THE HORSE
Just what does a handicapper look for in a "winnable" horse? Handicapping horses is an old art. There is no sure way to tell and even if a handicapper did have a sure formula, they wouldn't tell you. Generally, however, handicappers and horseplayers take into account such factors as speed, form, class and pace.
- SPEED. The daily racing publications have all the needed data on horse's speed and times.
- FORM. Form is how well in shape a horse seems to be. Of course, the better in shape it is, the bigger a favorite it is to win and therefore, the smaller return per bet.
- CLASS. The thoroughbred classes are an important point of consideration as well. Top caliber steeds typically race only with horses of equal breeding.
- PACING. Pacing refers to the horse's running style. However this is something the jockey decides and cannot be quite predicted.
Further handicapping factors that can influence a horseplayer's judgment are: race track, weather, layoff (a long break from running for the horse), jockey, race track position (inner or outer track) and others.