A Hidden Factor in Horse Racing Handicapping That You Need to Know to Win
Horse racing handicapping is full of facts and data that you must sift through to find a good bet on a horse.
It is more than just figuring out which runner is the best of the field, it is knowing how each one compares to the other and then comparing the odds to find the best value in a wager.
In order to do that, though, you have to have all the facts.
While speed, with the advent of speed ratings, class, and form, as well as trainer and jockey stats are all pretty transparent, there are a few things that are not so easily seen and some things that are completely overlooked.
One thing that is often overlooked and seldom mentioned is turns.
Unless you are handicapping quarter horse dashes that travel in a straight line, you are going to have to figure out the effect of turns or the turn upon your horse.
Turns are a complicated issue and can have a tremendous impact on the results of a race.
How often do you use the turn or turns in your handicapping? If you are like most people you probably answered, "Very little or not at all.
" But rest assured, the jockeys and horses have to deal with those turns and they do make a big difference in some races.
For instance, in a route race that starts near the first turn, that is with a very short run to the turn, horses in outside post positions have a real problem.
They are hung out wide on the turn and must cover a lot more ground than the racers in the inside post positions.
Many years ago when I was beginning my career as a horseracing handicapper, I was standing at the rail at Rockingham Park in New Hampshire.
I had bet on a promising looking runner in an outside post position who was being ridden by a veteran jockey.
The starting gate was very close to the turn and when the gate opened, my horse wanted to go to the front.
It took all the rider's strength to muscle the horse back and slide over to the rail.
I cursed under my breath as I watched the wily old reins man make his way to the inside and then finally let the horse go.
He trailed the field, but they were so tightly bunched, he was still not many lengths behind the leader.
I foolishly thought he blew the race, but he confidently and patiently loped along on the rail and when a spot opened for him on the final turn he slipped through and won the race.
I cashed a nice ticket, gained respect for the rider and learned not to curse a jockey too soon.
He knew the only way he had a chance to win was if he got his horse on the rail and saved ground throughout the race.
That took a lot of skill and some luck and you can't always depend upon either one, so betting on a horse in a disadvantageous post position, due to the proximity of the turn, is not recommended.
There are other situations where the turns are important, too.
For instance, a front runner may like a two turn race where a closer may not.
Some horses handle running around a turn better than others.
Going from a one turn race to a two turn race can affect a runner's performance.
Pay attention to turns and use them to your advantage and you will be way ahead of the crowd.
It is more than just figuring out which runner is the best of the field, it is knowing how each one compares to the other and then comparing the odds to find the best value in a wager.
In order to do that, though, you have to have all the facts.
While speed, with the advent of speed ratings, class, and form, as well as trainer and jockey stats are all pretty transparent, there are a few things that are not so easily seen and some things that are completely overlooked.
One thing that is often overlooked and seldom mentioned is turns.
Unless you are handicapping quarter horse dashes that travel in a straight line, you are going to have to figure out the effect of turns or the turn upon your horse.
Turns are a complicated issue and can have a tremendous impact on the results of a race.
How often do you use the turn or turns in your handicapping? If you are like most people you probably answered, "Very little or not at all.
" But rest assured, the jockeys and horses have to deal with those turns and they do make a big difference in some races.
For instance, in a route race that starts near the first turn, that is with a very short run to the turn, horses in outside post positions have a real problem.
They are hung out wide on the turn and must cover a lot more ground than the racers in the inside post positions.
Many years ago when I was beginning my career as a horseracing handicapper, I was standing at the rail at Rockingham Park in New Hampshire.
I had bet on a promising looking runner in an outside post position who was being ridden by a veteran jockey.
The starting gate was very close to the turn and when the gate opened, my horse wanted to go to the front.
It took all the rider's strength to muscle the horse back and slide over to the rail.
I cursed under my breath as I watched the wily old reins man make his way to the inside and then finally let the horse go.
He trailed the field, but they were so tightly bunched, he was still not many lengths behind the leader.
I foolishly thought he blew the race, but he confidently and patiently loped along on the rail and when a spot opened for him on the final turn he slipped through and won the race.
I cashed a nice ticket, gained respect for the rider and learned not to curse a jockey too soon.
He knew the only way he had a chance to win was if he got his horse on the rail and saved ground throughout the race.
That took a lot of skill and some luck and you can't always depend upon either one, so betting on a horse in a disadvantageous post position, due to the proximity of the turn, is not recommended.
There are other situations where the turns are important, too.
For instance, a front runner may like a two turn race where a closer may not.
Some horses handle running around a turn better than others.
Going from a one turn race to a two turn race can affect a runner's performance.
Pay attention to turns and use them to your advantage and you will be way ahead of the crowd.
