Teach
12-25-2007, 08:49 PM
One of the best books I ever read on winning at the races had nothing to do with charts, computer-generated handicapping programs, Beyer figures, trips, trouble lines, biases, etc. It had everything to do with a horse's body language. The book I'm referring to is called:"Horse Talk: It Pays to Listen."
Just as people give off non-verbal cues: folded arms, eye contact or lack thereof, posture, hand gestures; thoroughbred horses do the same. Most people are not aware of a horse's body lanuage; thus they can't take advantage of it. Visual handicapping can be a big part of your handicapping routine.
In this day in age of simulcasting, with dozens of tracks running from various parts of the country, you may be tempted to bet a race you have no form for. I call it "betting off the board." Yet, if you're astute and knowledgeable about horse body language, you may, in just looking at the post parade, spot something about a particular horse's demeanor, canter or anatomy that will suggest that he's ready to win.
The book I'm mentioning: "Horse Talk: It Pays to Listen (I'm not shilling for it) has a wealth of information on horse "tells." One of the things I remember most when I first read it (I lent it to a friend and never got it back) was that in a sprint you're looking for a horse that looks like a the knight in a chess match. You know that powerful mane and head look. Another factor I recall was the horse appearing lively on the track; the horse would be prancing around as he came onto the track for the post parade. He'd be on his tiptoes.
Further, you might want to look for what is called a "conditioning muscle." That musculature may be more obvious on one particular horse in the field than others. There's another muscle group, usually invisible in most horses, that the author calls a "tootsie roll" because this muscle group (I believe it's located above a horse's hind legs) resembles a giant horse-sized "tootsie roll". Frankly, I wish I could recall all the books details, but it's been several years.
Yet I do believe that horses' non-verbal communication about their well-being and conditioning, or lack, can be one more tool in handicapping the races.
Just as people give off non-verbal cues: folded arms, eye contact or lack thereof, posture, hand gestures; thoroughbred horses do the same. Most people are not aware of a horse's body lanuage; thus they can't take advantage of it. Visual handicapping can be a big part of your handicapping routine.
In this day in age of simulcasting, with dozens of tracks running from various parts of the country, you may be tempted to bet a race you have no form for. I call it "betting off the board." Yet, if you're astute and knowledgeable about horse body language, you may, in just looking at the post parade, spot something about a particular horse's demeanor, canter or anatomy that will suggest that he's ready to win.
The book I'm mentioning: "Horse Talk: It Pays to Listen (I'm not shilling for it) has a wealth of information on horse "tells." One of the things I remember most when I first read it (I lent it to a friend and never got it back) was that in a sprint you're looking for a horse that looks like a the knight in a chess match. You know that powerful mane and head look. Another factor I recall was the horse appearing lively on the track; the horse would be prancing around as he came onto the track for the post parade. He'd be on his tiptoes.
Further, you might want to look for what is called a "conditioning muscle." That musculature may be more obvious on one particular horse in the field than others. There's another muscle group, usually invisible in most horses, that the author calls a "tootsie roll" because this muscle group (I believe it's located above a horse's hind legs) resembles a giant horse-sized "tootsie roll". Frankly, I wish I could recall all the books details, but it's been several years.
Yet I do believe that horses' non-verbal communication about their well-being and conditioning, or lack, can be one more tool in handicapping the races.