| Understanding Class is the difference between winning | | | | important to look at what level he is used to running |
| and losing. When reading the daily racing program they | | | | and see where he is at today. If he is used to running |
| let you know the type of race that is going on along | | | | higher claiming and dropped down today this is a horse |
| with the prior races that each horse has raced in. This | | | | to watch. This information is crucial when handicapping |
| gives you some key insight into whether the horse is | | | | horses because trainers are constantly moving up and |
| facing some tough competition or if it going against a | | | | down in classes and even though it does not seem like |
| weaker field and with this knowledge you can begin to | | | | much of a difference between Claiming 7500 and |
| visualize how the race will play out. For starters there | | | | Claiming 5,000 its definitely something to be taking into |
| are different classes that a horse can race in, so in | | | | account for. |
| from the lower class to the higher classes they are as | | | | Claiming races are very popular and an ideal |
| follows: | | | | contender have these 3 qualities: |
| Maiden Claiming | | | | 1.) Early Speed |
| Claiming | | | | 2.) Improved or peaking form |
| Srtr Allowance | | | | 3.) A drop in class |
| Allowances | | | | This year I have found that at Gulfstream track the |
| Handicap | | | | horses that were winning the race all had something in |
| Derby/Stakes Races | | | | common. They were being maneuvered and dropped |
| With these classes Maiden Claiming being lower class | | | | in class. I shifted my betting strategy for the rest of the |
| going up to the Derby races as the cream of the crop | | | | day to eliminate all horses that did not drop in class and |
| they also have a number associated with them. You | | | | came out with a couple monster tickets. This is some |
| will see in the program it will tell you Claiming 10,000 or | | | | basic information for a beginner, professional |
| another number letting you know the amount the | | | | handicappers look at this information daily as part of |
| horses are racing for. The higher the number the | | | | their routine. Its also important to not just refer to the |
| higher the class. For example if you have a horse that | | | | last race but look at the entire race history of the |
| is running in a Claiming 10,000 and its last race was | | | | horse. Has the horse always raced at a higher class? |
| Claiming 5,000 this horse is going against a tougher | | | | Has the horse showed it can compete at the current |
| field then it did its last time out. Called moving up in | | | | class that its racing in? How many horses or what |
| class. Also if you have an Allowance 10,000 and last | | | | horses are taking a significant drop in class? These |
| time it raced a Claiming 40,000 it actually is dropping in | | | | are some general starting questions to ask yourself. |
| class note that Allowance races are higher classes | | | | Class is and will always be a huge factor in |
| than a claiming.Don't just look at the last race it is | | | | horseracing. |