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Originally Posted by Downthestretch55
Just my opinion...
it depends.
On an older horse or mare...not much.
On younger...lots!
Depends on conditions, the racing secs try to make it competative.
My two cents.
DTS
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Agree...depends on a lot of factors. Old school trainers would swear that a pound or two could mean the difference between winning or losing, Euro trainers seem to accept large weight assignments as routine (which they are). Kincsem once carried 168 pounds and won easily over a distance of ground, she routinely spotted male rivals 10, 20, 30 pounds or more and destroyed them. On the other hand, I've seen cheap claimers at Penn destroy a field by 10 lengths and then return next out against the same horses and finish soundly beaten carrying 4-5 pounds more...was it weight or form cycle? I think DTS is right...effects younger horses more in general but then often they start low enough that the increases to 126 pounds is overcome by maturation. Seems to effect horses much more on the dirt than turf, can stop a cheap speed horse like a brick wall! All in all...it depends on the individual horse and the track condition.