I have listed terms below , which are necessary to discuss handicapping.
Allowance Race - Horses in these races can not be claimed. They are
running for the purse. A 44,000 allowance race pays a total of 44,00 in prize
money. They may carry different weights for reasons as rookie jockey.
Allowance Optional Claimer Race - This is an allowance race where some horses can enter as a claimer and name a claiming price.
I have observed that the horses with a claiming price usually lose.
Apprentice jockey - When a rookie jockey starts running at a track. In
most races he will be allowed to carry less weight. This is a big
advantage. I have read that this is a bigger advantage in sprint race but
my eperience shows that this is actually a bigger advantage in two turn races.
Box - Box em if you have a box of money that you dont need. This is usually true. A box is an exotic
bet where one includes multiple horses which may come in any order for one to hit. You
may bet a 3 horse tri boix and if the three come in 1st 2nd and 3rd you win. The problem is that
for this tri bet it cost six units and at least 5 are bound to lose. A two horse box exacta
cost two units, thats not so bad. A four horse box super cost 24 units. Anything over a dime bet this
way is generally a foolish bet. More on how to give away your money.
Blinkers on - Adding blinkers will keep a horse from seeing the other horses
around him.
Class - class ratings are best described as a relative rating for a given field of horses in a given race at a given track.
The better the competition the higher the class.
Chalk - To spite what you might hear there is only one chalk in a race. It
is the favorite. Much handicapping comes off the chalk. Try and
figure out if he is a false favorite.More on Chalk
Claiming Race - A race where a any horse may be claimed for a set amount. In a 5000 dollar claimer the prize money is not $5000
the price to claim a horse is $5000. Look at the prize money and get an idea how much the trainer really want to win
this rate. A common misconception is only the winner can be claimed, any horse can be
claimed. More on claiming race stratigies
Coupled - Sometimes horse with the same trainer or
owner (common betting interest) will run with same number as 1 and 1A or 2, 2B
and 2X. If one of the group wins you will get paid as if any of the horses
won. That is you like and bet 1 but 1A wins you still get paid as if 1 had
won. More on Coupled betting stratigies
Dirt - Its under your feet. Dirt surfaces vary at Churchill Downs it is
very hard making the track vefry fast. Often they will make it super hard
usually for the Derby. It is harder on horses and dangerious. It is
harder for the Ky. Derby because breaking Sectateriat's record would make for
lots of publicity.
Early - Early running style is where a horse trys to get out of the gate and get to an
early lead.
Exacta - This is a pool where the winners have picked the first two horses in
the correct order.
Exacta Box - Picking the winning and second place horses. Exacta Box cost
twice as much but one only needs to pick the top two horses they order of their
finish does not mater.
Furlong - about 1/8 th of a mile.
Gelding - A horse who has ben castrated. Sometimes this is done at birth
because of a health problem. It can also help calm a horse or help prevent
distraction. Of couse this precludes breeding a horse.
Insurance - A bet in case something goes wrong wioth first bet. Typically if you really like a long shot, bet a small exacta box with chalk to insure
the first bet. A classic mistake I see is people betting large insurance bets. Would you
pay $10,000 to insure a $15,000 dollar car. If so, I would like to play poker with you.
Long Shot - Goes off at long odds.More on long shots.
Maiden - Innocent young girl or a horse who has not won a race.
Maiden Claimer race - these are generally low dollar race for horse who have never won a race. Any horse in the race can be claimed before the race for
the race starts. Like claimering races, any horse may be claimed for a set amount. In a 5000 dollar claimer the prize money is not $5000
the price to claim a horse is $5000. Generally owners of phillies and mares want their horse
to win one race before they are sent to the breeding barn. As this will make it easier to sell their off spring.
More on claiming race stratigies
Maiden Special Weight race - Maiden Special Weight Races are usually for high dollar races for
horses who have never won a race. Unlike maiden claimers, the horse can not be claimed.
Morning Line - The published odds on the race.
Usually the track handicapper studies the race the night efore and determines
the line in the program. This is not supposed to be his opinion but the
odds on the toteboard when the horses leave the gate. Often you will see a
track handicapper pick a horse to win that he made a long shot in the morning
line.
Needs a check - Small change owner whose expensive horse can't seem to get in
the money. The trainer may take him to a much lower class in an attempt to
get paid for this horses upkeep. The horse may get claimed.
More on claiming race stratigies
Pool - Horse betting is a conducted through a paramutal pool. You are not betting against the track
you and competing with other betters. All the money in the pool is split among the people with the winning
bet after the track takes out their cut (15 to 22 per cent). That is, if $100,000 total is bet
in the win pool. The track will take their cut out the pool before the race starts. Lets say 15% is
taken out that mean the betters picking the correct winner will split $85,000.
Non Winners race - Generally for maidens (horses who have not won a race). Sometimes special
races are set up with non-winner since a specified date. It seems to me that this condition is specified for horses
coming off a long layoff. This is often a workout for these horses and one should not bet on them.
Pace Horse - Pace running style is where a horse stalks the lead horse staying just behind
planning to pass the leader in or after the final turn.
Poly - Artifical surface. Poly tracks are softer than dirt. Poly is
more akin to turf. Therefore horses who close are often a good play here.
Past Performance - This is the heart of handicapping. This is chart
showing the horses in a race with the vital statistics of each horse.
Including past race stats, owner, trainer, trainer stats, jockey and lots of
other interesting information. Knowing how to read this is key to winning.
Power Ratings - Are calculated from past five races speed and class.
Quniella - Quin - Works like the exacta box only the pay is the same wheter the
onger odds horse is first or second.
Rail Bird - A spectator who stands at the rail
watching the race. I like to benear the finish line.
ROI - Return on investment. The average amount that would be returned if you bet $2.00
every time on a specific condition. That is if you bet 2.00 to win on Jockey X 10 times(thats $20) and
you won 40 dollars. Then your ROI would be $4.00. If you won ten dollars your ROI would be $1.00. .
Route Trainer - Some trainers are very good at sprints (7 furlongs or
less) and some are better at longert races(two turn races).
Route race - two turn race - longer race (7 furlongs or less)
Starter allowance - This is a fairly cheap race with a mix of good and bad horses.
orses can not be claimed in this race. I find these to be very difficult to handicap.
Seconditis - Tendancy of some horses to always finish second. The horse is
probably superior to other horses in his class but he does not like to pass the
leader. He would be hell is they can cure that.
Sprint Trainer - Some trainers are very good at sprints (7 furlongs or less) and
some are better at longer races(route races). Statistically this may be the best handicapping
point.
Superfectia - This is a pool where the winners have
picked the first four horses in the correct order.
Turf - Grass surface. Many horses run better on turf than dirt.
Turf horses often have softer feet. Turf winners tend to be horses that
close at the end of the race. Turf times seem to be better than dirt
especially for two turn longer races.
Tri or Trifecta - This is a pool where the winners have picked the first three
horses in the correct order.
Track Bias - Information abourt which lane is best which running style is best.
It also includes helpful information abourt wet and dry tracks.
Wire the field - Leadthe race from beginning to end.