Horse Racing Handicapping

Horse racing handicapping is the challenging task of predicting the the likelihood that a particular horse will win a race. It is the basis for the payout ratios offered on horse races. To handicap a horse, there are two main sources of information that the handicapper relies on–the past performance record of a horse, and the present track conditions and how these relate to the previous performances.

Handicappers measure these abilities by using very detailed performance histories and racing results. To handicap horse races effectively, officials will focus both on historical averages as well as recent trends. This allows for the handicapper to incorporate a string of recent losses or victories into an overall view.

This approach is particularly useful if a veteran horse is facing a more inexperienced competitor. Rather than long-term averages, in such a case it is more helpful to give added weight to recent performances. If a fading champion is looked at in terms of his overall performance, he may appear impressive even if he hasn’t placed in his last six races.

A connected but not precisely identical use of the term “horse racing handicapping” refers to the equalizing values placed on different horses in a certain race. This occurs if there is a significant difference in age or ability among horses, and involves assigning extra weight to a horse. This does not occur in all races and is not a part of the formal horse racing handicapping process of calculating odds.

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