| Handicappers build a toolbox that they can dig into to | | | | figures and form will not be enough. You'll also have to |
| pick apart a race and then put together a strategy or | | | | use a tool that assesses how much effect each of |
| campaign for profitable horse racing handicapping. Can | | | | the other factors will have on those speed figures. |
| you correctly identify the tools in your tool box? Do | | | | You must learn how to compare speed figures but |
| you use some kind of system to pick a race apart | | | | you must also learn what effect running for a new |
| and then look at each part of it? | | | | barn will have on a horse's average speed. That |
| For instance, when you look at the speed figures of | | | | means you have to pull out your trainer tool and adjust |
| the horses, how do you compare them and quantify | | | | the horse's average speed by whatever the average |
| them? Some people merely look at the time in the last | | | | improvement or decline is that you know that trainer |
| race, or average time at the distance. That may work | | | | will be good for. So you adjust speed figures with |
| for them, based on how they find good bets and other | | | | trainer tools. |
| factors, but by itself will not show a profit. Putting | | | | Next you adjust speed figures with form cycle for |
| several factors together, like speed, conditioning, | | | | horses coming back from a layoff on their first second |
| connections is a good way to assign a morning line to | | | | or third race back. But that also has to be adjusted by |
| horses, but assigning a morning line on just three | | | | knowing how much the trainer pushes a horse and |
| factors isn't enough. | | | | what he or she will expect from the runner. There are |
| To make a profit betting on horse races you must | | | | so many variables that affect each factor in horse |
| have a whole bag of tricks, or box of tools and be | | | | racing, you must have a tool for comparing and |
| familiar with them so that when you see a situation | | | | adjusting them. |
| that requires a certain tool, you will reach into that box | | | | You must adjust each factor according to class, |
| and pull out the tool. A good workman realizes that | | | | breeding, age, gender, conditions, connections. Only |
| one tool doesn't do every job. | | | | when you have done all this can you begin to know |
| You don't use a screwdriver to drive a nail or a file to | | | | what a horse's real chances of winning may be and |
| saw through wood. In a claiming race with horses | | | | then, based on that, know what fair value is in the |
| dropping in class and running for new barns, speed | | | | pools. Your method becomes your tool for each one. |