General Horse Racing Questions

[richard burch]

Always good info from Steve.
There are some differences state to state, but more minimal now.

Weight is a minimal factor in US racing now. When I was younger, they had 20lb. differences in Hdcp races. That could make a difference. If playing Hong Kong it's something you should look at.

I still see some crazy weights in Australia. Tonight there are some that go from 134 -119 but I've seen worse. Honestly weight is my least concern out of all the handicap angles. The horse weighs 1200 lbs+. I don't think an animal that strong and powerful will feel any difference under 15 lbs on a rider. IOW; I never think "Wow! He lost because he weighed 5 more lbs than the winner.

One thing I like about 5 day race weeks is it gives jockeys some time to go out (or home) and have a good meal and maybe a few beers and have another day to get back to weight

The jocks have are a breed of their own trying to stay fit and light. Much respect for them.

[richard burch]

How do you rate them? I know that every race is different but you would probably find a few of these applicable in any race. So many options and still challenging to pick a winner.

Blinkers on / off
1st Time lasix
Jockey trainer Combo
2nd time start
Drop in class
Move up in class
Wraps on /off
Jockey switch
Trainer switch
Turf to dirt
Dirt to turf
Synthetic tracks
Stretching out
Cutting back
Pedigree
Weight
Post position
Horse for course

[jnunan4759]

Wraps are a funny one. Many trainers use them routinely on the rear to prevent "run down" and injuring the skin. They are mainly protective and when you see the material, there is not a lot to them. They are not like an Ace bandage and cannot substantially improve support for an inherit condition. Most trainers avoid the fronts if not necessary because they require work and must be put on correctly and safely so as not to unravel during the race (which I've seen and is horrifying).

It used to be an old trainer angle with claimers that they would add front wraps and hope that would scare off potential claimers of the horse. Not sure that still holds.

Most often it is that the horse, because of his action and stride, will whack his legs with his other legs and the wraps help avoid cuts and scrapes.

One factor you didn't mention is First Time Gelding. Many states and tracks are lax on reporting this, but it can be an important factor. NYRA is about the best on reporting it correctly. Be careful when a horse is coming from another track and reported as a First Time Gelding in NY as it may have been a gelding for a while. I raced a gelding in PA for 5 years and he was a gelding and was always listed as a colt. I told them multiple times and nobody ever changed it.

Often it can effect positive behavioral and physical changes and resolve issues and/or problems. Not always, but sometimes.

[richard burch]

Originally Posted by jnunan4759

Wraps are a funny one. Many trainers use them routinely on the rear to prevent "run down" and injuring the skin. They are mainly protective and when you see the material, there is not a lot to them. They are not like an Ace bandage and cannot substantially improve support for an inherit condition. Most trainers avoid the fronts if not necessary because they require work and must be put on correctly and safely so as not to unravel during the race (which I've seen and is horrifying).

It used to be an old trainer angle with claimers that they would add front wraps and hope that would scare off potential claimers of the horse. Not sure that still holds.

Most often it is that the horse, because of his action and stride, will whack his legs with his other legs and the wraps help avoid cuts and scrapes.

One factor you didn't mention is First Time Gelding. Many states and tracks are lax on reporting this, but it can be an important factor. NYRA is about the best on reporting it correctly. Be careful when a horse is coming from another track and reported as a First Time Gelding in NY as it may have been a gelding for a while. I raced a gelding in PA for 5 years and he was a gelding and was always listed as a colt. I told them multiple times and nobody ever changed it.

Often it can effect positive behavioral and physical changes and resolve issues and/or problems. Not always, but sometimes.

That's a big one! Really can change a QTR horse immediately. Forgot "Mudders" in the wet and track bias too.........and don't forget those ridglings.

[richard burch]

Wonder why it seems some tracks are connected but not really. Like a lot of Jersey horses go to Florida in the winter, Canterbury goes to Remington, Gulf stream goes to Woodbine, etc.... I wouldn't think going from dirt to synthetic and back would be a thing you wanted to do.

[Kitan]

Originally Posted by richard burch

I still see some crazy weights in Australia. Tonight there are some that go from 134 -119 but I've seen worse. Honestly weight is my least concern out of all the handicap angles. The horse weighs 1200 lbs+. I don't think an animal that strong and powerful will feel any difference under 15 lbs on a rider. IOW; I never think "Wow! He lost because he weighed 5 more lbs than the winner.

If we use data from Race 8 at HK this past weekend (I chose this race because it was the feature of the card), the average horse weight was approximately 1100lbs.

The top end of the weight spectrum in HK is 133lbs and the lowest 113lbs (discounting any possible apprentice weight). This works out to the carried weight being 12.1% and 10.3% of body weight (1100lbs), respectively.

If we translate this to a human weighing 180lbs, this is essentially the same as one carrying a 21.8lbs backpack and the other running carrying an 18.4lbs backpack. I know which one would be easier for me to run with!

But, let's look a bit more at that 8th race. The high weight at 130lbs had a body weight of 1008lbs, while the low weight at 116lbs had a body weight of 1305lbs. This works out to a carried weight of 12.9% and 8.9% of body weight.

Back to the 180lbs human example, one carries a 23.2lbs backpack and the other a 16.0lbs backpack. Or, if we consider that the second human weighs 30% more than the first (1300lbs vs 1000lbs horse), they still only carry 20.8lbs for 8.9% of body weight.

I'm not saying weight is the first thing you should circle on a page, but it definitely has enough of a factor that jockeys in Hong Kong are allowed a maximum of 2lbs overweight. If they (a) don't declare their overweight when the entries are finalized, and/or (b) go more than 2lbs overweight, and/or (c) don't weigh out after the race, a fine and/or suspension comes their way.