How to Handicap Quarter Horse Racing

By Anthony T. Richards

This is a fascinating book on handicapping quarter horse racing. Unlike other approaches that are simply too general to be of use, this book takes a comprehensive look at quarter horse handicapping by analyzing every possible factor that goes into determining the horse with the best chance of winning.

 

Occasionally, there will be a book that looks at speed handicapping, but these publications will only look at speed in a manner that is plain to see in the past performances and not what elements go into producing this speed.

 

Although the author uses class as his starting point, he takes a long look at other factors in quarter horse handicapping as well. After reading this book, you will not be overly focused on a quarter horse's final times and speed ratings.

 

This book was originally published in 1983. Although out of print for more than 20 years, it is now back in print.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Teela Books
• Release date: May 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393494751

Book preview

Table of Contents

Publisher's note 

Preface 

Introduction 

Class 

Condition 

(A) Recency 

(B) Call

(C) Speed

Trainer

Jockey and Weight 

Age 

Tote Board 

Maidens 

Minor Factors of Handicapping 

Money Management 

The Complete Quarter Horse Handicapping Method

Summary

Publisher's Note

This book was originally written in 1983. We obtained the rights to this book and have published it exactly as it appeared in 1983. Much of the information may seem dated, but we feel that there is still much value in the work, and we believe you will find value in it as well. 

Preface

The following handicapping principles laid forward in this book are based on statistics I have compiled in the last few years. Hopefully, with the aid of a computer, I will be able to organize these statistics better and publish them in book form.

The following book contains 10 chapters on factors of handicapping. The chapters in the book are basically arranged in order of importance. Class is the first chapter, followed by the three components of condition. The next seven chapters are of equal importance, and after each chapter, there is a page which sums up the important concepts to remember.

There are important differences between thoroughbred and quarter horse handicapping and differences between the two breeds themselves. I will try to explain most of these differences in various points of this book.

Many times I may use terms in this book that a beginning horse player may not understand. For this reason, I have provided a glossary in the back of the book. Please do not hesitate to use it.

No horse should ever be reduced to a simple mathematical figure, which is very common among many books on handicapping, especially those books concentrating on speed handicapping. Later in this book I will give you a technique to arrive at a number that accurately measures the class of a horse. This  number will only

express the horse's class and cannot be used by itself. You must remember that handicapping is not a science but an art. The figures that you will learn, although very helpful, are only a part of the art of handicapping, which is a process of weighing positive and negative factors.

Introduction

As quarter horse racing becomes more popular and the industry grows, there is an increasing number of horse players in need of handicapping instruction. New racing fans become confused and questions arise about the nature of QH handicapping and

how it differs from handicapping thoroughbreds. This is the purpose of the book: not only to explain handicapping in general, but also to explain the differences between quarter horse and thoroughbred handicapping.

To begin with, we must note that there is quite a difference between the two breeds of horses. The thoroughbred is an animal that has been bred for racing distances of as long as two and half miles to as short of a distance as five furlongs, with the average race around 7 furlongs. Thoroughbreds are a much larger breed than the quarter horse. They usually weigh anywhere from 1,000 to 1,100 pounds. They are an internationally bred animal and can be found on six continents.

The quarter horse is a bit smaller, with the average weight being somewhere between 900 and 1,000 pounds. Descending from the thoroughbred and range horse, (the range horse being a descendant of the prairie wild horse), the quarter horse is bred predominantly in the United States, and is truly an American horse.

The thoroughbred is more fragile than the quarter horse. Standing for long periods in the starting gate can sometimes harm the horse's chances of winning. Their legs, ankles, and tendons are not as strong as the quarter horse. You would think that running around an oval, with all other factors being equal, the horse starting from the first post position would have an advantage. But the horse in post position number one also must enter the gate first, and therefore will be standing on his feet for the longest time. It is for this reason that time and again you hear about eliminating the starting gate and introducing a running start for thoroughbred

races. This has never been a problem in quarter horse racing. The quarter horse shows an instantaneous burst of speed, leaving the gate. The quarter horse is a strong animal. Even with the addition of some thoroughbred into the breed, they still tend to be sturdier.

Along with a reputation for being one of the fastest animals in the world, the quarter horse is also known as one of the most versatile animals. Although you will only see thoroughbreds in races, there are a variety of competitions in which the quarter horse competes. Among these are barrel racing, jumps, pleasure riding, maneuvers such as slide and stop, circle, spins, backing up, figure eights,

and many others. These are competitions in which the horse itself is judged and not the rider.

There are some who even claim that the quarter horse is a smarter animal than a thoroughbred, but this is doubtful. It is true, though, that the quarter horse requires more schooling than a thoroughbred.

Unlike thoroughbreds, the QH is pure speed. This undoubtedly is the main reason why racing fans enjoy the breed so much. A thoroughbred is very slow getting out of the gate, so slow in fact, that the clock is never started until after the first horse has broken the 50-foot barrier. In QH races, the clock is started as soon as the gate is opened. A QH is quick out of the gate, and the smallest mistake by the horse can cost him