| Class is one of the key factors in horse racing and if | | | | will be for years. They have invested so much in the |
| you want to cash big tickets on winners, sometimes | | | | horse that they run it in allowance races hoping the |
| even long shots, you have to learn how to spot a big | | | | horse will eventually round into a strong performers. If |
| class drop. Admittedly, a big class drop will often result | | | | the horse never satisfies their expectations, they may |
| in a lot of action in the mutuels and the horse will go | | | | decide to cash out on the horse, let someone else |
| off at a short price, but not always. Even those horses | | | | claim it, and move on. It may also be that the horse |
| that do get bet down to favoritism status deserve a | | | | has sustained an injury that now makes it less |
| look because no other move in horse racing produces | | | | desirable and less likely to reach a higher level. |
| more winners. | | | | Whatever the case may be, a horse that is entering |
| The problem, of course, is what really constitutes a | | | | the claiming ranks for the first time is a horse you |
| good class drop? There are several situations that | | | | have to consider as a contender. |
| usually involve younger horses that, in my opinion, really | | | | The second big class drop is a similar situation. When a |
| do signify a big class drop and therefore, deserve | | | | horse has been running in the maiden special weight |
| respect from serious handicappers. The first such | | | | races and then drops into a maiden claiming race, that |
| situation is when a horse is dropping into the claiming | | | | is a huge drop in class. It means that the owner is no |
| ranks for the first time. | | | | longer protecting the horse and expectations have |
| These horses are usually well bred and were fairly | | | | been lowered. It also means it was facing much |
| expensive yearlings. The owners and trainers | | | | tougher competition. A horse that demonstrated little |
| expected a lot from them and therefore, after | | | | ability or interest in racing will often show a markedly |
| breaking their maidens, they were placed in stakes and | | | | improved performance against claimers. |
| allowance races. So why are they now entered in a | | | | These two class drops are the biggest in my opinion |
| claiming race where the owner may lose the horse in | | | | and anyone who is handicapping horse races for |
| the claim box? There can be several reasons for this. | | | | money should bear them in mind whenever |
| First of all, there are some horses who mature slowly | | | | handicapping a race. |
| and the connections don't know how good the horse | | | | |