| The process of handicapping a harness race, or | | | | that a particular post or posts are advantageous, |
| any horse race for that matter can be as | | | | mark it beside the horse's name. The next thing |
| complicated or simple as you make it. Naturally, | | | | to look at is the driver's UDR. The UDR is the |
| the more handicapping factors that you take into | | | | universal driver rating. It means the proficiency of |
| consideration and effectively weigh, the better | | | | the driver at coming in first, second, third and it is |
| your chances of understanding what each horse's | | | | very important. Obviously, the better the driver |
| probability of winning may be. That is the true | | | | the better the chances the horse will win. You can |
| goal of handicapping a horse race, by the way, it | | | | circle the top three scores in the race, though |
| is all about probability. The following explanation is | | | | anything over.275 is very good. |
| not meant to make you a great handicapper, just | | | | The next step is to see how the horse's |
| to get you started with a few simple guidelines. | | | | themselves have been racing. Look for horses |
| So when you are trying to pick a winner at the | | | | who have finished in the money (1,2,3) in their last |
| harness races, you are really deciding what each | | | | two races. Circle any horse that finished well and |
| horse's chances of winning may be. At half mile | | | | look at the post position it raced from in that |
| and five eighths mile tracks, there is a great | | | | race. If it is moving to amore advantageous post |
| advantage to some post positions. While certain | | | | position, it may do even better today. Circle the |
| posts at the mile tracks do have an advantage, it | | | | horses who have finished well. You should now |
| isn't as pronounced as the shorter ovals. Almost | | | | have enough horses and drivers and posts circled |
| all harness races in the United States are one mile | | | | to get an idea of which horses will have the best |
| dashes. So distance doesn't really matter as much | | | | chance of winning. |
| as it does in thoroughbred racing. | | | | There are many people who can handicap a |
| The Standardbred horse is a hardy breed that | | | | harness race quite well, so a look at the |
| usually handles the one mile distance quite well. In | | | | toteboard odds will probably confirm that you |
| fact, years ago, harness horses often raced more | | | | have indeed found the best horses in the race. |
| than once in a single day. Though a lot of races in | | | | Now look to find the best odds (highest odds) on |
| a short time will take its toll on horses, the | | | | one of your top two or three horses. The |
| harness breed can handle a lot of races, so you | | | | simplest bet is a win bet so you may bet the |
| usually don't have to worry about fatigue. Once | | | | horse to win. Obviously, this simple method of |
| they are in good condition, barring lameness or | | | | deciding which horses have the best chance to |
| injury, they usually stay in good form for quite a | | | | win is not meant to be a great money maker, |
| while. | | | | but it will help you to understand why the horse is |
| Therefore, start by looking at the post position of | | | | favored and also is a way to start understanding |
| each horse and the track's statistics. If you see | | | | betting on harness races. |