How does a horse get handicapped?

What are handicap races in horse racing?

Handicap races make up the majority of horse races run in the United Kingdom and Ireland on both flat and National Hunt courses. Horse racing handicapping opens the sport of horse racing to the widest possible pool of horses, owners and trainers whilst also ensuring the result is exciting and engaging racing contests.

How are horse racing handicap ratings determined?

Every horse racing jurisdiction has an official handicapping body that’s responsible for providing official ratings for every horse in training. In Britain it’s done by the British Horse Racing Association (BHA).

What is the job of a horse handicapper?

The handicappers job is to asses a horse based on running history. This decides the horses official racing (seen as OR on race cards). After 3 runs the horse is given a rating.

How does handicapping work?

Every week the handicapper re-assesses the horses ability. This is why it’s possible for horses to quickly accumulate a winning sequence over the space of a week (under the same official rating). The handicapper then gives the horse a penalty of 3, 5 or 7 pounds to carry.

How much weight does a horse carry in a handicap race?

In this case it might be 9 stones and 7 pounds. 9-7 is the combined weight of the jockey and his equipment. The other horses carry less weight proportionate to their handicap ratings. So if a horse rated 80 in this race carries 9-7, then a 70-rated horse carries ten pounds less (that is 8-11) and a 66-rated horse 14 pounds less (8-7).

Are group 1/2/3 races handicaps?

Group 1/2/3 races on the flat are not handicaps and any difference in the weights carried by horses is dependent upon the conditions of the race i.e. age of the horse, has it won a group race before etc. Over jumps, some Grade 3 races are handicaps.

Are horses eligible to run in races?

Horses are typically eligible to run in certain races depending on what their handicap mark may be. Flat racing and jumps racing have different scales and a different number of class divisions: Class 2 – Handicaps with 86-100, 91-105 and 96-110 ratings bands. Class 7 – Classified Stakes 0-45 (Horses carry the same weight regardless of rating)

What is the difference between a handicap and a non-hanidcap race?

The difference between a handicap and a non-hanidcap race is that in a handicap horse race, horses can carry different weights in their saddle to make the race more competitive. In a non-handicap all horses carry the same weight – so the best horse normally wins.

What is a hybrid handicap?

This is a hybrid race: a handicap in which the trainer can reduce the weight due to be carried by a horse in exchange for permitting that horse to be claimed at a price according to values set by the BHA. This is a new type of race and is currently being trialled. See here for a full explanation.

Can a 3 year old horse run in a horse race?

Many state bred programs offer lucrative purses to state-bred horses, which is an attractive option for buyers and breeders of horses that race in-house. Furthermore, only three year olds can run in three year old races and males are not allowed to enter female-only races.

What is a 65 handicap horse race?

For example, the race might be designed for horses rated 0-65 but all carry the same weight whether their handicap rating is 65 or not. These races provide an opportunity for horses of similar ability to compete on level terms.

What is a hybrid race in horse racing?

This is a hybrid race: a handicap in which the trainer can reduce the weight due to be carried by a horse in exchange for permitting that horse to be claimed at a price according to values set by the BHA. This is a new type of race and is currently being trialled.

What is the second category in horse racing?

SECOND – horses which have received the lowest weight penalty for the race, and so on upwards until the safety limit is reached. Horses in the same weight penalty category shall be eliminated in order of lowest aggregate prizemoney received.

Are horse races handicapped?

Seen one horse race, seen them all, right? Wrong! There is a huge variance in the horses competing in a race – four-year-old mares, three-year-old colts, and on it goes. Therefore, races are handicapped in an attempt to give each horse an equal chance of winning.

What is a horse race?

A race for horses entered to be claimed. Nomination and possibly entry and starters fees are added to the base purse. This race type refers to a race where the weights are assigned by the track’s Racing Secretary or Handicapper based upon past performances.

What is the difference between a match race and a handicapper race?

This race type refers to a race where the weights are assigned by the track’s Racing Secretary or Handicapper based upon past performances. Their goal is to assign weight to each horse so that all entrants have an equal chance of winning the race. THERE IS NO ADDED MONEY IN A HANDICAP RACE. A match race is a race that involves just two horses.

What is handicapping in Queensland horse racing?

Queensland use a hybrid combination that has races classified from class one to class six. Handicapping came about as a way to level the playing field in order to generate a high level of interest in racing, and wagering on that racing.

How many times can a horse run in a race?

Races with a max rating for horses that have run at least 3 times, or run twice and won at least once. Races where the weight a horse has to carry is determined by the official handicapper. The better the horse, the higher its handicap rating. Horse can only run in races where the max rating is higher or equal to its rating.

What is a 66 rated horse in horse racing?

Trainers may still enter horses rated 65 or lower in this race but the weight carried by those horses in this example would be the minimum of 8-7, the same as for a 66-rated horse. This is called ‘running from out of the handicap’ or ‘running wrong at the weights’.

What is the difference between a Listed race and a handicap race?

Horses that have recently won at that grade or higher are usually also required to carry a penalty. Listed races are the stepping-stone between handicap races and the Pattern, with the weights carried determined in a similar way to Group races.

Is a horse eligible for a handicap race?

Eligibility for these races is determined by a horse’s handicap mark but the weight carried is not. For example, the race might be designed for horses rated 0-65 but all carry the same weight whether their handicap rating is 65 or not. These races provide an opportunity for horses of similar ability to compete on level terms.

What is a handicapper race?

This race type refers to a race where the weights are assigned by the track’s Racing Secretary or Handicapper based upon past performances. Their goal is to assign weight to each horse so that all entrants have an equal chance of winning the race. THERE IS NO ADDED MONEY IN A HANDICAP RACE.

What is a hybrid race?

This is a hybrid race: a handicap in which the trainer can reduce the weight due to be carried by a horse in exchange for permitting that horse to be claimed at a price according to values set by the BHA. This is a new type of race and is currently being trialled.