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MODERN HANDICAPPING WAYS WELLKNOWN MATHEMATICIAN AND RACING STUDENT STUDENTGIVES GIVES SUGGESTIONS AND SOME RULES TO TOGUIDE GUIDE NOTABLE EXAMPLE OF OFFIGURES FIGURES FITTING A RACE By N S HAND Less than twenty years ago the general public looked upon backing a race horse as demoralizing and an extremely hazardous gambling business wherein the public had practically no chance of permanent success successToday Today through the development of handicapping this same public have been taught that racing spec ¬ ulation as a whole is conducted on far more legitimate and honorable methods than any other line of speculation and in addition has the advantages of open avenues of investigation concerning the records class and form of all horses in training which obviously gives the operator more reliable lines of calcu ¬ lation than can possibly be obtained in any commercial or general business businessThe The idea that racing is immoral is fast being dissolved by these and other truths and the fact that more persons attend the races today than ever before proves conclusively the masses are daily becoming more educated and appreciative of racing and racing methods and must prolit by so doing otherwise the average annual attendance would necessarily decrease decreaseHandicapping Handicapping is an expert business based on scientific and mathematical principles not judgment guesswork or opinion In order to be successful it requires diligent application careful study and a clear unbiased mind as well as long practical experience and a personal knowledge of the individual peculiari ¬ ties of men horses and tracks throughout the entire country countryTurf Turf sport in addition to being a most delightful healthful and pleasant amusement affords oppor ¬ tunity for profitable investment provided of course operations are based on good figures and systematic business principles The largest and most successful turf operators of today are men who depend and rely exclusively on such principles regardless of conflicting private information or tips and while it is practically impossible to win continuously the general results are invariably in favor of handicap figures The development in handicapping has laid bare the supposed secrets of racing and enabled the operator to accomplish that which was previously considered practically impossible without being on the socalled socalledGENERAL GENERAL HANDICAPPING RULES AND SUGGESTIONS SUGGESTIONSThe The most important items to consider in handicapping are class and disposition of the horse his ability to do what is asked of him carry the weight his like or dislike for the distance condition of the track behavior at the post and any peculiarity of nature or disposition that may be of sullicient impor ¬ tance to impede his progress or mar his chances of winning winningConsideration Consideration of the kind of race stake purse or selling size of the field jockey who rides and last but not least the ability of the owner trainer and jockey are important These conclusions can be reached by noting the general action of the horse in a block of races and by the general reputation of those who care for him As a rule however all estimates should be based on the supposition of universal honesty and freedom from prejudice prejudiceRemember Remember that horses are not machines but like men have their individual peculiarities of disposi ¬ tion and ups and downs of health At times horses become nervous and bad tempered under excessive racing or irregular treatment It therefore does not follow that because a horse is favorite lie is always the best or even figures to win the race for favorites as a rule are on the decline or going back and may have previously shown their best It is almost impossible to keep any horse however sturdy in winning condition for an indefinite period periodAlways Always favor horses that are coming on and have shown marked improvement In races not work ¬ outs as horses often work miles in 141 and get beat in 143 with less weight and a good jockey up Sometimes the reverse is also shown Many good race horses are bad work horses horsesThe The distance a horse is beaten is not always a reliable criterion for he may have been out of his class short eased at the finish or had bad racing luck such as interference or a bad start If no reason can be given for a bad defeat throw the race out outAllow Allow from live to ten pounds for winning easy and a like amount for beaten horses that were cased at the finish as the circumstances warrant warrantFigure Figure only on the best recent races taking those run at the same or nearest distances excepting those only that are thrown out outFor For every days travel and confinement of a horse in a car deduct live points from his handicap per ¬ centage when figuring his first start on a new track This race as a rule should be thrown out in futuru calculations calculationsUp Up to autumn young horses rarely run to form with aged ones unless they outclass them no matter how light the weight weightLong Long delays at the post are detrimental to heavyweighted nervous and young horses but are usually beneficial to rheumatic aged animals with a fancy for going a route routeIandagcs Iandagcs whether artificial or natural caused by firing serve to strengthen the joints and are of great benefit to semicripples and weakjointed animals animalsQuick Quick breakers bad actors and nervous horses are usually unreliable in longdistance races racesGood Good mud horses usually perform well on the turf or grass grassSulkers Sulkers bleeders cripples and jumping racers ars usually unreliable in fiat racing racingSlow Slow breakers and longstriding horses are usually best in long races especially when the pace is slow slowLongstriding Longstriding horses as a rule are not good on a sloppy track trackWarm Warm tips before a race indicate the present condition of the horse and an experienced observer can obtain much valuable information by noting the appearance and movements of the different horses in such warm ups upsUnskillful Unskillful boys often ride good races and experienced riders more often ride bad races but a good boy seldom wins on a bad horse horseVicious Vicious animals and cowards run best in blinkers blinkersHumane Humane and kind treatment will do more toward the development of a highclass horse than all the punishment and stimulants that can be administered Evidences of this fact are to be found almost daily in cases of changes in owners trainers or jockeys The term of racing usefulness of the average horse varies from five to eight years according to the care and treatment he receives Under proper handling he should be in his prime between the ages of four and six sixRheumatic Rheumatic horses do best in a dry or warm climate climateMares Mares and fillies arc best after the summer season seasonNever Never attempt to figure out probable dishonesty in a race There is as much or more honesty ou the turf as in the commercial lines linesTen Ten pounds of lead or dead weight are equivalent to fifteen pounds of live weight horses and jockeys being otherwise evenly matched matchedAccept Accept no tips in conflict with your figures no matter how reasonable the authority Owners and trainers opinions are usually biased All other tips are usually mercenary or worthless worthlessDo Do not let long odds prevent you from playing your selection but do not imagine your selection cannot lose and overplay yourself no matter what you may hear to strengthen your belief There is no sure thing in a race Even should your horse win he may be disqualified disqualifiedThe The greater the speed a horse makes the less the allowance for reduction in his weight thus if a horse attains his highest or near his highest speed with 1HO pounds up it does hot follow that with 100 pounds he will run a twentypound better racp In such cases the allowance for reduction in weight be ¬ comes pnutically n matter of judgment giving due consideration to tlio conditions ami circumstances class and disposition of the horses horsesGENERAL GENERAL CLASSIFICATION OF HORSES HORSESA A really highclass horse is one that is intelligent reliable consistent game courageous gentle Continued on fifth page MODERN HANDICAPPING WATS Continued from first pace obedient mid at all times willing and able to go any reasonable route with weight up maintain a high rate of speed mid overcome all ordinary obstacles under adverse conditions The handicap horse is a shade inferior to the firstclass horse but with his general quality A selling plater is a horse having hut fair or little class inclined to bu erratic that canine relied upon only under favorable conditions and at certain distances The majority of all horses running cornel under this class I IA A bad horse and there are many such in daily action is one having no class lie rarely wins When he dogs he is lucky and benefited by some accident This even holds good when among his own kind Such horses beat one another regularly and are wholly unreliable and unsafe to support except in rare instances Even then they win only under the most favorable conditions It is best to leave them alone One of the most important features to be considered in all estimates is the changes of track and conditions This is the greatest stumbling block with which the average handicapper has to contend In proof of this you rarely if ever find two of them agree on anything but a fast track When a horse is a known mmUler allow his fast track figures to stand when otherwise deduct from five to fifteen pounds from his fast track figures using your own judgment as to such allowance In case of a tie on points play the better jockey If jockeys arc equal take longest odds at post time timeIn In case of overweight make deductions according to the table used though it must be remembered some horses are affected by weight less than others Hake only onehalf thcs deductions when applying them to good weight carriers ILLUSTRATION OF HANDICAP FIGURES FIGURESIn In order to sharply demonstrate the value of correctness of handicap figures the folio wing example is given It conies through the race for the Louisiana Derby run at New Orleans March 17 last TJ e starters were figured overnight Handicap Table No 1 being applied In the actual race six starters ran first second third fourth fifth and sixth as the table figures declared that they would Here is the table and chart of the race The truth of the illustration is for the reader to figure for himself himselfAMERICAN AMERICAN RACING MANUAL TABLE NO 1 CM I co CO T Tri ri r 300 47 S3X 100 106V iis 120 126H l33Ji 140 141 144 1483 1534 lWK 206 297 X 54 XXX H 127 Vt V yt yt 147 H 200 Vt Vtvt 294 Vt X Vt 107 H vt K v x x K y x x xK 291 f K X X X K VtM il42 145 H154 H 207 288 48 X 101 Vt 114 121 5i M 141 H VA H X K 285 X 55 X X H 282 Vt X Vt 108 Vt 279 X Vt X X a 135 143 145 y 165 H 208 276 49 X 102 Vt 115 122 H 142 M H J4 H 273 V 56 X M129 Vt V Vt Hl49 H 202 yt yty 270 Vt X Vt 109 Vt y x x y u H 267 X Vt X X VtlM AIM 147 H158 H 209 264 50 X 103 X 116 123 5 J4143 H H H H X 261 Y Y25S 57 X U 130 Vt Vt Vt 150 Vt 203 Vt VtytXytKXx 25S X Vt 110 yt ytXytKXx 255 Va nX X X Vt 137 145 148 Vt 157 H 2 10 252 51 il04 yiin 124 K HIM H H H X H 249 X 58 XXX 24131 Vt H Vt y151 yt204 V 246 X Vt 111 Vt V X K K A X X X X 243 H X X X X yz138 146 149 W158 Vt 2M 240 52 5105 H11B 125 X 145 X XX X XX 237 X 69 X Hi M132 Vt X Vt H152 H205 Vt 234 V X HiX K112 Vt Vt X X Vt X X XX XX 231 X H X X X X 139 X l 150 y159 Vt 212 228 53 106 Vt 119 126 X X 146 X X X X X X 225 X 100 X X X X 133 Vt X Vt Vt 153 H 206 H 222 V X Vt 113 yt X X Vt X X X XX X 219 X Vs X X X X ys140 Jil48 151 H200 H 213 GENERAL ESTIMATE One point for one pound two points for one length
