| Horse race betting has become a huge business with | | | | weights as their performances improve or worsen. As |
| millions being wagered everyday. Most people view | | | | a serious punter you need to know the effect of |
| their flutters as just a little bit of fun while a minority | | | | these weight changes. This will also help you to |
| consider themselves professionals and use betting | | | | understand why so many of the "handicap good |
| either to make or supplement their income. | | | | things" get beaten. |
| It is a common misconception that you can only make | | | | Occasionally a horse will drop down in weight so much |
| money from horse racing if you have some inside | | | | compared to its rivals that some experts declare it a |
| knowledge. This supposedly involves having contacts | | | | handicap certainty that cannot be beaten. |
| with owners, trainers of their staff. If this was true | | | | Unfortunately many of these good things come trailing |
| surely all the stable staff would be driving around in big | | | | in well behind the eventual winner. The truth of the |
| cars and the bookies would be travelling by public | | | | matter is that you can slow down a fast horse by |
| transport. | | | | giving it extra weight but you cannot speed up a slow |
| To be successful betting on horse races requires a | | | | horse by taking off weight. |
| degree of knowledge, dedication and understanding. | | | | In good, good to firm or good to soft going carrying |
| For instance one of the most misunderstood factors is | | | | extra weight will have little effect on a good horse. It is |
| the allocation of weight carried by a horse in a | | | | still likely to beat a slow horse that has been lowered in |
| handicap race. The basic idea is that a handicapper | | | | the weights. Where weight can make a difference is |
| looks at each horses past performances and gives it | | | | when the going is soft or heavy. |
| a weight to carry in races. | | | | In these conditions the faster horse carrying high |
| The weight is made up by a combination of the | | | | weights will be slowed down. This allows the lighter |
| jockeys weight and equipment and lead weights in the | | | | weighted horse who can get through the ground |
| saddle cloth. That weight is supposed to give it an | | | | easier because of its light weight to keep up. Carrying |
| even chance of finishing level with the other horses in | | | | a big weight through heavy ground can drain a horse's |
| a race. Of course the idea of all the horses finishing in | | | | energy as it becomes tired and in these circumstances |
| a line is almost impossible but the closer the horses | | | | the lighter, normally slower horse can go on to win. |
| finish together the better the handicapper has done his | | | | This happens often in long distance races. |
| job. | | | | So when making your selection for any race you |
| In this system horses will go up and down in the | | | | should consider both the horse's weight and the going. |