Pure Speed Handicapping Quarter Horse Racing

By Douglas Masters

In this book, author Douglas Master explains his approach ed quarter horse handicapping. Pure speed is a perfect explanation of what you see with a quarter horse, and Masters explains exactly how to create accurate speed ratings to give you an advantage over the rest of the betting public.

 

The factors that affect a horse's final time are discussed. Masters then begins to teach the mechanics of constructing par times and calculating track variants. Finally, he explains how to project speed ratings for a horse's next race using a variety of factors.

 

Par time charts for seven different race classes are included, as well as a parallel time chart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Teela Books
• Release date: Jun 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393290056

Book preview

Introduction

Speed is the name of the game in quarter horse racing. With few exceptions, these races are run on the straightaway. No turns to navigate, and no pace to pay attention to. From the moment the gate opens, the jockey hustles the horse out of the gate and rides it hard from start to finish.

Given the importance of speed, it would seem obvious that you need only look at a horse's final times to determine which horse is the fastest in the race, and then make a bet. However, there are problems with this because different distances are carded for quarter horse races. This problem can be solved with the construction of parallel time charts and speed ratings can then be used instead of final times. In this manner, an 85 speed rating, for example, will be the same for a distance run of 300, 350, 400 yards or any other distance run.

The problem with this is that track conditions can vary. This not only includes the surface of the track, but the direction of the wind. Tailwinds, naturally, allow a quarter horse to run faster, and a headwind will slow them down. This problem can be circumvented with track variants for each day of racing. However, there are problems doing this as well. The track can vary between the start of the first race and the last race. Finally, there are usually not enough races to apply any statistical analysis to. A simple average of all races on the card may give you an inaccurate track variant figure. 

In addition, there are various factors that can increase a horse's final time in today's race. Some of these factors can only be estimated on how it will affect a horse's final time.

There are three areas to consider with quarter horse speed handicapping:

1) Understanding factors that can influence a horse's final time.

2) Creating speed ratings to easily compare a horse's final time regardless of distance.

3) Modifying speed ratings to account for track and weather conditions.

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In the following sections, I will discuss each of the areas listed above. I will start with the many factors that affect final time, then move on to creating your own speed ratings, including the use of par times and track variants. Finally, I will discuss the method that I use to handicap quarter horse races using these speed figures. 

Factors that Affect Final Time

Class