Harness Racing Handicapping Articles

Harness Racing Handicapping

By: Richard Bleuze

Harness racing handicapping

When you handicap a harness race, there are some things to look for when you do harness racing handicapping. My top suggestions are:

1. Good Form
Most harness horses tend to be a fairly consistent breed. Make sure that the horse has excellent form. Most harness horses have shown the ability to race well at a certain class level and are often the most likely candidates to win a particular race.

2. Consistency
Harness horses that have demonstrated that they can win consistently at a particular level often yield very solid selections to win a race.

3. Top Drivers
At most harness racetrracks, the top three or four drivers will win a disproportionate amount of the races. You can usually find a list of the top drivers in the official track program. In addition, each driver's UDR (universal driver rating) appears next to the driver's name.

4. Top Trainers
At most harness racetracks the top trainers in addition will often dominate in the win standings at a racetrack. You will also find this information in the offical track program.

5. Inside Post Positions
As a rule, the closer to the rail a harness horse starts, the better that chances of success. This also applies to most horse racing. It has been shown, that an inside post makes it easier for a horse to get good early position.

6. Horses That Have Had "Bad" Luck In The Past
Sometimes horses have had their chances of being in the money lost because of things beyond their control. A few examples would be: poor post positions, interference, breaking, being parked out, being overmatched in class.

7. Horses Dropping In Class
Look for a harness horse that has dropped in class to show wll in a harness race. You will often find that a horse that has dropped in class in the race has demonstrated poor form in the past because it has been competing against horses that are superior in ability.

I hope that the above tips will make you a better harness racing handicapper. It is a fun sport and if you can make money at it, the better you will enjoy harness racing!

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About the Author:

Richard provides articles and information about horse betting on his website at http://www.bettingthehorsesonline.com

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Major racetracks

Major horse racetracks in the U.S. were opened

at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1853;
at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York in 1863;
at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland in 1870;
at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey, opened in 1870;
at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, opened in 1875;
at Aqueduct Racetrack in the Ozone Park neighborhood of Queens in 1894;
at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas in 1904;
at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, just outside New York City on Long Island, in 1905;
at Fairmount Park Racetrack in the St. Louis suburb of Collinsville, Illinois in 1925;
at Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida, near Miami in 1925;
at Arlington Park in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois in 1927;
at Santa Anita Park in the San Gabriel Valley community of Arcadia, California, in the Los Angeles area, in 1934;
at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky in 1936;
at Del Mar Racetrack in the San Diego suburb of Del Mar, California in 1937;
at Hollywood Park Racetrack in another Los Angeles suburb, Inglewood, California, in 1938.

Thoroughbred horse racing in the United States has its own Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, New York. The Hall of Fame honors remarkable horses, jockeys, owners and trainers.