The American Quarter Horse Articles

The American Quarter Horse

By: Richard Bleuze

American Quarter Horse racing is the fastest horse race the starting gate to the finish. Unlike Thoroughbred horse racing there is no time to maneuver for position. Therefore, the experienced handicapper can concentrate on speed, class, jockey/trainer combinations and track conditions.

The American Quarter Horse may be America's most consistent athlete. In 1993, American Quarter Horse betting favorites finished in the money (first, second or third) 71. Those numbers can not be said for by Thoroughbred or Standardbred racing!

The key is knowing how to cash in when betting on the American Quarter Horse. Thus, if you're a smart horse handicapper you'll do your homework by learning everything you can about the horse, its rider, trainer, bloodline, competition and even the surface the horse will run on. Knowledge is the key to making money when placing a bet on the American Quarter Horse.

When handicapping the American Quarter Horse race, I suggest that you know the following:

CLASS - Class is probably the most important factor in handicapping.

BEFORE RACE DAY PREPARATIONS - Check out the historical data or past performances.

RACE FREQUENCY - Look for excessive or irregular layoffs between races which could indicate a fitness problem that could keep the horse from running true to form.

TRACK CONDITION - Know it! Horses that performed well in conditions similar to today's could have the edge.

DISTANCE - Determine the horse's suitability to today's distance. A horse that performs well at short distances could fade during a longer race.

TYPES OF RACES - Think of race classifications as levels of the class of horse they attract with stakes races being the highest and $2,000 maiden claiming the lowest.

POST POSITION - Unless a horse has a great deal of early speed to go to the front and take the inside rail, an outside post position is definitely a disadvantage.

POSITION CALLS - Positioning and ability to make up ground can reveal a lot about a horse.

MEDICATIONS - If a horse is on the first-time Lasix list and has shown good early performance in past races but has faded toward the end, the effects of Lasix might make a difference in the race.

EQUIPMENT - A horse wearing blinkers for the first time might be a good wager.

WEIGHT - Generally in American Quarter Horse racing, weight is not a major factor in the shorter races.

TIME AND INDIVIDUAL TIME - Use best recent times at today's distance, conditions and racetrack.

SPEED INDEX - The speed index is an evaluation of a horse's speed in a race versus the three fastest winning times for the same distance each year for the previous three years at the same racetrack. Thus, the average of best recent speed indexes is a good basis for comparison.

JOCKEYS - As a rule, the best horses will have the best riders. Thus remember, that jockey changes can often affect the outcome of a race.

TRAINERS - Know the trainer's winning percentages and not just their total wins. In addition, keep track of a trainer's ability with different classes or ages of horses.

BREEDING - As a general rule, pedigree has a significant influence on a horse's natural ability to run.

MONEY LINE -Know how often the horse has started. In addition, know the number of wins, places (second), shows (thirds) and purse money won this year and last year.

By knowing the above, you should make money in betting the American Quarter Horse.

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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.