Handicapping

Key Points to Remember
Your job is to identify, in advance, the two out of three races that are not won by the crowd favorite and to identify the two non-favorite horses most likely to beat the favorite.

Evaluating Horses
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Based on Handicapping Factors:
• Suitability to distance
• Suitability to surface
• Current form
• Class level
• Speed
• Jockey and trainer

Based on the Pace Scenario:
•Will the horse’s running style be helped or hurt by the probable pace?
•Will early runners be able to hold on down the stretch?
•Will late runners be able to catch the early horses in the stretch run?
•To avoid “4th-place-itis”: Will late runners be close enough at the 2nd call to be a factor in the race.

Based on Situational Factors:
+ Trouble last (not persistent)
+ Double Move last (“V” Pattern)
+ Ran well vs. today’s probable pace
+ Returning to a distance, surface or
class the horse will like
- Persistent trouble
- Returning to a distance, surface or
class the horse will not like
- Ran poorly vs. today’s probable pace
- Bad recent race(s) without an excuse
- Bad recent race(s) without a reason to
expect better today

Learn From Every Race
What worked?
What did not work?
What did you miss?
Reason(s) for a major surprise