| Contenders in horse racing are runners that have | | | | 2. Class: Has this runner ever faced horses close |
| a chance of winning the race and beating the best | | | | to this class level and run within 2 lengths of the |
| horse in the race. The way to find contenders is | | | | leader at 2 calls? |
| to first locate the best horse in the race and then | | | | 3. Connections: Do the people who train, own, and |
| compare all other runners to that horse. If you | | | | ride this horse win enough to be taken seriously? |
| locate the best horse it will usually also be the | | | | 4. Recency: Has the horse shown a good race in |
| favorite, after all, the betting public and backside | | | | the last 30 days? or a very good workout in the |
| crowd know a good thing when they see it. | | | | last week? |
| But once in a while, you may handicap a horse | | | | 5: Conditions: Has the horse shown that it can |
| race and find a horse that you think is better than | | | | race on the surface and at the distance it is going |
| the horse likely to be the favorite. If you are a | | | | today? |
| good handicapper, then this is an excellent | | | | While these may seem like very elementary |
| situation, but if your horse picking is suspect, you | | | | factors, it is amazing how often people overlook |
| better check again to see why so many others | | | | them and lay serious money on an animal that is |
| don't share your opinion. | | | | a big question mark. |
| Here is a list of some horse racing handicapping | | | | Always consider who the contenders are in the |
| factors to use to pick likely contenders (this is not | | | | race and then look for value in the contenders. In |
| an all inclusive list and subject to speculation). | | | | a race where you can't find a few legitimate |
| 1. Speed: In order to be competitive, the horse | | | | contenders I advise that you pass it by and wait |
| must show it can post a speed figure within a | | | | for a good bet. |
| point or two of the favorite. | | | | |