What does a handicap mean in horse racing?

What is an optional claiming handicap?

Optional Claiming Handicaps are run as handicaps, but connections are able to claim a weight allowance off the horse’s handicap mark in return for the horse being claimable for an advertised claiming price, which will depend on the horse’s age and rating, but will be as prescribed in the table found here.

What is an example of an optional claim?

An example of an Optional Claimer may have the following conditions: “OPTIONAL CLAIMING. Purse $40,000 For three year olds and up that have not won two races other than maiden or starter, or which have never won three races, or claiming price of $50,000”.

What is an optional claiming horse race?

An Optional Claiming race is one where horses can be entered for the pre-determined claiming price. If “entered not to be claimed”, the horse must meet the allowance condition of this race.

What is the difference between an optional and allowance race?

In an optional claiming race, the horse can be entered to be claimed or not at the owner’s discretion. Claiming races account for about half of the races run at American tracks. In an allowance race, horses are not for sale and the purses are generally higher.

What do the numerals mean in an allowance race?

Races with multiple allowance conditions will show only the first allowance condition. Starter Handicaps and Starter Allowance races are for horses that have started for a certain claiming price since a certain date. The numerals represent the claiming price, which a horse must have started for at one time to qualify for this race.

What are the n1x and n2x ranks for allowance races?

Rankings for allowance races are based on previous allowance race wins and are as follows: N1X – All horses must have not won an allowance race before. In other words, the horse can only have won at previous levels. N2X – All horses have won no more than one allowance race.

What do the numerals mean in horse racing?

Some claiming races may have a condition attached to the race like “non-winners of two races”. Unlike allowance races described earlier, the numerals indicate the claiming price of this race. Some races may offer weight allowances for horses entered for a lesser claiming price or for non-winners since a certain date or at a certain distance.

What is the difference between n2x and N3X?

N2X – For horses that have not won more than one allowance race. N3X – For horses that have not won more than two allowance races. N4X – For horses that have not won more than three allowance races.

What is an allowance race?

In an allowance race, horses are not for sale and the purses are generally higher. These races have set conditions and weights to carry with weight “allowed” off for meeting other conditions. Rankings for allowance races are based on previous allowance race wins and are as follows: N1X – All horses must have not won an allowance race before.

What does n1x mean in horse racing?

N1X – For horses that have not won another allowance race or a graded stakes. N2X – For horses that have not won more than one allowance race. N3X – For horses that have not won more than two allowance races. N4X – For horses that have not won more than three allowance races.

How do horse racing form abbreviations work?

The horse racing form abbreviations work as follows: The / symbol indicates a break from racing longer than the off-season (i.e. longer than the typical break between racing seasons). The most common abbreviations mean the following:

What does a n mean in horse racing?

A N in CL, WMC and WCL races means the horse was declared ineligible to be claimed by the owner per state regulations.

What is the difference between a claiming and allowance race?

Claiming races account for about half of the races run at American tracks. In an allowance race, horses are not for sale and the purses are generally higher. These races have set conditions and weights to carry with weight “allowed” off for meeting other conditions.

What is a claiming race in horse racing?

In a claiming race, every horse has a price tag and the horse can be bought or “claimed” out of the race for that price. The horse must be claimed BEFORE the race takes place.

What does h mean in horse racing?

In jumps racing form figures: c (steeplechase), h (hurdle) and b (bumper/National Hunt Flat race), followed by the distance rounded to the nearest furlong and the going as for Flat racing.

What are the abbreviations for horse racing?

The going abbreviations are h (hard), f (firm or fast), m (good to firm), g (good or standard), d (dead), s (soft or slow) and v (heavy) In jumps racing form figures: c (steeplechase), h (hurdle) and b (bumper/National Hunt Flat race), followed by the distance rounded to the nearest furlong and the going as for Flat racing.

What is a note in horse racing?

A bet on a horse to place as well as win. Place terms depend on number of runners and type of race. A horse that falls at a fence will receive the note of F in the formbook. The shortest priced runner in a field and the most likely winner in the eyes of the bookies. A horse that likes to lead throughout a race. Standard distance unit in racing.

What does C mean in horse racing form?

When included in the six figures that make up recent form, C means that the horse was pushed off the designated race course during a race by another horse. When displayed outside of the recent form figures, C means that the horse previously won on the racecourse it is due to run on next.

What do the abbreviations on a horse racing racecard mean?

A horse racing racecard has all manner of abbreviations to signify everything from form to whether it’s wearing blinkers. We’ve broken down the various aspects of a racecard below, alongside their meaning…

What do the letters mean in horse racing?

A horse’s race record which is denoted by figures next to its name in a racecard. The form may also include some letters, for example F denoting a fall. An imperial unit of distance measurement in horseracing. A furlong is an eighth of a mile or a little more than 201 metres.

What is the purpose of a horse race?

A race goes to the horse that runs from A to B fastest. However, crucially, the purpose of a horse race is not to run as fast as possible but to run faster than one’s rivals. The two – running as fast as possible and running faster than one’s rivals – sometimes coincide, but there are a multitude of reasons why they might not.

What does cc mean in horse racing?

C indicates a horse has won on that course before. D indicates a horse has won over that distance before. CD indicates a horse has won over course and distance. BF stands for beaten favourite and indicates a horse was favourite for a race, but did not win.