What is Handicapping? - Lazy Bettor Guides

New to Handicapping? Here's the details!

Using horses for sport has been common place for centuries. This section should be used to give a little more background on horse sports and horse racing in general. As an introductory section, we will also use this area of text to give a brief overview of Horse Racing and set the stage for the definitions and descriptions of terms that will follow. This page should be thought of as a glossary of terms and a simple Dummies Guide to horse racing and betting.

As an introductory section, we will also use this area of text to give a brief overview of Horse Racing and set the stage for the definitions and descriptions of terms that will follow. This page should be thought of as a glossary of terms and a simple Dummies Guide to horse racing and betting.

What is Horse Racing?

Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance, for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic premise – to identify which of two or more horses is the fastest over a set course or distance – has been unchanged since at least classical antiquity.^[1]

Horse races vary widely in format and many countries have developed their own particular traditions around the sport. Variations include restricting races to particular breeds, running over obstacles, running over different distances, running on different track surfaces and running in different gaits. In some races, horses are assigned different weights to carry to reflect differences in ability, a process known as handicapping.^[2]

While horses are sometimes raced purely for sport, a major part of horse racing’s interest and economic importance is in the gamblingassociated with it,^[3] an activity that in 2008 generated a worldwide market worth around US$115 billion.^[4]

Types of Races

Flat Racing

Flat racing is the most common form of horse racing seen worldwide. Flat racing tracks are typically oval in shape and are generally level, although in Great Britain and Ireland there is much greater variation, including figure-of-eight tracks like Windsor and tracks with often severe gradients and changes of camber, such as Epsom Racecourse. Track surfaces vary, with turf most common in Europe and dirt more common in North America and Asia. Newly designed synthetic surfaces, such as Polytrack or Tapeta, are seen at some tracks.

Jump Racing

Jump (or jumps) racing in Great Britain and Ireland is known as National Hunt racing (although, confusingly, National Hunt racing also includes flat races taking place at jumps meetings; these are known as National Hunt flat races). Racing can be subdivided into steeplechasing and hurdling, according to the type and size of obstacles being jumped. The word steeplechasing can also refer collectively to any type of jump race in certain racing jurisdictions, particularly in the United States.

Harness Racing

A type of racing where horses go around a track while pulling a sulky and a driver behind them. In this sport, Standardbreds are used. These horses are separated into two categories, trotters and pacers. Pacers move the legs on each side of their body in tandem, while trotters move their diagonal legs together. The latter are typically faster than the former due to the gaits used. Occasionally a horse will break their gait into an actual canter or gallop. This could cause the loss of a race or even a disqualification. Notable races include the Breeder's Crown series.

Endurance Racing

The length of an endurance race varies greatly from only ten miles, while other races can be up to one hundred miles, others longer than one hundred miles and last multiple days. Races are divided into five categories: pleasure rides, non-competitive trail rides, competitive trail rides, progressive trail rides, and endurance rides. Because each race is very long, trails of natural terrain are generally used.

Breeds of Horses

Thoroughbred

There are three founding sires that all Thoroughbreds can trace back to in the male line: the Darley Arabian, the Godolphin Arabian, and the Byerley Turk, named after their respective owners Thomas Darley, Lord Godolphin, and Captain Robert Byerly. They were taken to England, where they were mated with mares from English and imported bloodlines. The resultant foals were the first generation of Thoroughbreds, and all modern Thoroughbreds trace back to them. Thoroughbreds range in height, which is measured in hands (a hand being four inches). Some are as small as 15 hands while others are over 17. Thoroughbreds can travel medium distances at fast paces, requiring a balance between speed and endurance.

Standardbred

The standardbred is a breed of horse used for a variety of purposes, but they are largely bred for harness racing. They are descended from thoroughbreds, morgans, and extinct breeds. Standardbreds are typically docile and easy to handle. They do not spook easily and are quite versatile in what they can do. They can be jumpers, dressage, and pleasure riding horses.

Arabian Horse

The Arabian horse was developed by the Bedouin people of the Middle East specifically for stamina over long distances, so they could outrun their enemies. It was not until 1725 that the Arabian was introduced into the United States. Arabians appeared in the United States in colonial times, though were not bred as purebreds until about the time of the Civil War. Until the formation of the Arabian Horse Registry of America in 1908, Arabians were recorded with the Jockey Club in a separate subsection from Thoroughbreds.

Quarter Horse

The ancestors of the Quarter Horse were prevalent in America in the early 17th century. These horses were a blend of Colonial Spanish horses crossed with English horses that were brought over in the 1700s. The native horse and the English horse were bred together, resulting in a compact, muscular horse. At this time, they were mainly used for chores such as plowing and cattle work. The American Quarter Horse was not recognized as an official breed until the formation of the American Quarter Horse Association in 1940.

How does the betting work?

Horse racing classes

Maiden

Non-winner, for horses that have never won a race.

Claiming

Lowest racing category, all race horse are available for sale.

Allowance

Mid-level, Horses are assigned a weight to carry or allowed to carry less weight.

Stakes

Highest level races, Top horses and biggest purses.