To the layman a handicap is something that restricts the ability to perform certain functions and so reduces the efficiency. In the case of horse racing the term handicap is used to denote the various factors that influence a horse’s performance. In other words, handicapping boils down to examining all the factors that affect a horse’s racing performance and using these inputs to predict the horse’s performance in a race. To take the kind of inputs that are needed to effectively handicap a horse race the DRF (Daily Racing Form) is a vital input as it contains perfect information a propos all the horses in a particular race, counting a detailed history of the horse, its past performance and the odds under which it ran, the amount of money it has earned for its title-holder and much more.

An vital part of the DRF is the stage wise performance of a horse in previous races – how far in adjoin or behind it was at a particular leg of the race. An experienced handicapper will be able to match this information to the racing conditions for the race he plans to bet on and be able to predict how the horse will perform. The next stage of handicapping is to study the horse itself – if it is silent and cool that is a excellent but if the horse appears nervous and has a restless tail it may be that something is upsetting it which could affect its performance.

In terms of handicap horse racing, speed and pace are two completely different issues and must never be confused. In handicapping pace doesn”t refer to the speed at which a horse runs but the way in which it runs the race. Some horses initiation quick but fade quickly and are best for small sprints, other have stamina and are steady runners while other may be slow initially but are able to place on a burst of speed at the end – the best for long races. The handicapper will have to balance the pace of each horse against the other competitors and also the nature of the race track itself to see which one is the most likely to win. Handicap horse racing is not only in this area studying the horse and its history – keeping a eye on the tote board to note any sudden changes in the odds which may signify a change in betting trends can provide a valuable indication of public perception of a horses expected performance.

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