Handicap Races
Thoroughbred handicapping...
A Handicap race is a horse race where horses carry different
weights. The purpose of this is to make the races more
interesting to bet on and allows for more skill in betting.
Although most handicap races are not for the very best horses,
some of the most popular races are handicap races.
Riding weights are assigned by the racing secretary based on
factors such as performances, distance so as to equalize the
chances of the competitors. Horses carry lead weights during the
course of a race in the saddle in the form of lead weights.
Thoroughbred handicapping is the art of predicting horses
that have the greatest chance of winning a race, and profiting
from these predictions at the horse races. The handicapping
process can be simple or complex but usually includes the
following elements prior to the race:
Observing the horses in the paddock and parade, in particular
its ears and tail. Ears should work together and look forward or
backward. The tail should be quiet as a swishing tail indicates
something is bothering the horse.
Watching for the changing odds of each horse and thus for
clues about how the betting public views a horse’s chances of
winning.