Racing 401

More advanced topics of handicapping are presented in these articles.

Result Charts Complete The Story

Result Charts are fully detailed accounts of what happened in a past race;  including running lines, odds, jockeys, payouts, and expanded comments.  An example is used to demonstrate the difference between abbreviated comments in the past performances and a full description in result charts.  Also, links to subsequent articles explaining the many variations of Result Charts in Daily Racing Form’s Formulator are provided.

Saratoga – The Summer Place To Be, For Trainers

Saratoga is a highly competitive meet, where 21 of the top 25 trainers in the country had stalls for the 2013 meet.  This makes handicapping the races a real challenge. But with the help of Daily Racing Form Trainer Statistics, the horseplayer can get an edge on the competition.

When It Comes Together

Using an example from the very first race of the 2013 Saratoga meeting, we reinforce the importance of understanding the basic elements of handicapping (Distance, Form, Class, and Pace).

Stretching Out And The Sprint Closer Paradox

Horses that close in sprint races, often give the appearance they will win next out with a little added distance.  We explain why this often doesn’t work out, and provide two examples of instances where horses were well-bet and faltered under this scenario.

For A Change Of Pace, Try The Cutback Angle

Cutbacks are when horses run shorter distances than they had run previously. A change in distance is usually accompanied by a change in pace, which often benefits a horse cutting back. We explain why this matters, and provide an example.

Ins And Outs of Jail Time In Claiming Races

Claiming races have restrictions that require trainers to run back claimed horses at higher levels of competition following a claim. The time period when these restrictions are in place is referred to as “Jail” time. A full description with examples are provided.

DRF Formulator Result Charts

Daily Racing Form Formulator provides enhanced Result Charts that include information about participants in a prior race well beyond what is available in a traditional result chart.  This article provides screenshots of the many features provided, including Next Race, Beyer Figures (going back 10 races), Incremental Pace Times, and extended DRF comments.

The Art Of Visual Handicapping – And A Breeders’ Cup Lesson

The art of looking for something beyond what trip handicappers are looking for in the typical “good” or “bad” trip review.  Focuses on the actions of a single horse and their jockey, and provides a list of things to look for when watching a video race replay.  An example is provided with race replays demonstrating the horse’s action.

How Did They Do It?

Continuing with the Visual Handicapping model, and using the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (2013) as an example, this article emphasizes the importance of making your own personal assessment as to how a horse performed in prior race(s).  Video replays of multiple races (and horses) leading up to the BC Distaff are provided to help better understand the concept.

The Late Maturing Horse – How To Identify One

Age is one of those little details that can sometimes get lost in the handicapping process. Here we describe when a horse typically peaks in ability, and demonstrate that not all horses are typical. An example of a very famous horse and a more recent horse fitting this mold are provided.

Panning For Gold

Digging into the result charts offered by Daily Racing Form Formulator can provide gold nuggets of information that are not visible to people reading programs or just the printed past performances. Horses that run well their next race, but don’t win is one example. This article gives a detailed example of a horse that exited a race where there were multiple nuggets pointing toward a winning effort.