| While the form cycle is often confusing and hard to | | | | When we say peak, we mean at the top of the form |
| figure or use accurately when handicapping horse | | | | curve. Any athletes, whether two legged or four |
| races, there is one angle that seems to work well. If | | | | legged, will have a form cycle. It can best be described |
| you are trying to find live horses that may improve off | | | | as a curve. Naturally, though they may have had |
| their last effort, then finding a horse that is on its third | | | | workouts and have been in training, horses will start at |
| start after a layoff is often a good bet. | | | | the bottom of the curve when they return to racing |
| Fresh horses usually have an advantage over horses | | | | because it takes actual races and the heat of |
| that have run many races because they are not worn | | | | competition to hone those muscles and skills. |
| out or lame. But while a fresh horse may not be lame | | | | The first several races seem to help a horse condition |
| or feeling the tiring effects of a long campaign, it may | | | | its muscles and also to help it get its head back into |
| also need some races to get back into shape. | | | | racing. If you see a horse that is on its third race after |
| Mid season form is something you will often here | | | | a layoff of 60 days or more, figure that it will probably |
| when speaking of a horse at the peak of condition. | | | | improve. The third start after a layoff angle is one of |
| That means that a horse that has some races will | | | | the better bets in horse racing, assuming that you can |
| have gotten back into racing shape but still be fresh | | | | get fair odds. |
| enough to compete at the top of the form cycle. | | | | |