Qualifyers

[Tom]

Why do horses run in qualifyers?
What is the purpose of them?
I have always had it in my mind that if a horse ran in a qualifyer last start, you eliminated it today. Any thoughts on this?

[sq764]

First off (maybe we harness people are anal), but 'Run' is a very bad word in harness racing..

As far as qualifiers, if a horse is off for more than 30 days, he needs to race in a qualifier. Also, if the horse breaks in 2 consecutive starts, he needs a qualifier.. I think they are good rules to protect the betting public.

From a handicapping standpoint, I usually leave horses alone if:

1) They are coming off a long layoff and only have 1 qualifier
2) They had to qualify because of breaks and have no PM races since then without a break

2 scenarios that I would bet a horse off a qualifier:

1) The horse has races within 30 days, but needed a sharpening, so they qualified him in a good time
2) The horse has 2-3 good qualifiers. These will win often. (especially high quality trotters)

[Alc]

Harness tracks require any potential starter to demonstrate the ability to complete a mile race in a prescribed time and maintaining its gait, either pace or trot. Time requirements are usually higher for trotters than pacers. Each track sets its own qualifying standards. Qualifiers are also used by some trainers to condition their horses for competition. Also, "would-be" drivers use qualifiers to demonstrate their readiness to judges before they are allowed to compete in parimutuel races. Al

[Figman]

Here's an angle that not many people know about. If they do, they don't seem to apply the results. At the Fair Grounds they also have qualifying races FOR THE THOROUGHBREDS! I've gotten some real good winners by paying attention the past few years, especially the last two.
http://tinyurl.com/2dd9j

[norm f]

Am i safe to assume the training races are just listed as workouts?

[Figman]

Absolutely correct. On the Fair Grounds site you will find Mike's Picks and Dick's Picks. Mike is the guy that does the in-house handicapping you pick up on the simulcasts. Dick is Dick Powell who you never see. He is the same guy that works on occasion for Capital District Regional Off Track Betting in the Saratoga area of New York. He also must spend a lot of time on airplanes. It was Dick who clued me into closely following these training race results and how important they can be when the good performers go into the afternoon pari mutuel races..

[Figman]

Here's another one. 10th race Sunday at the Fair Grounds
GOLDEN ACORN - a first time starter. Check the last qualifier (training race) on December 29th.
http://www.fgno.com/racing/training/train122903.html

[trying2win]

Sq,

--Partial quote from your earlier post on this thread:

"From a handicapping standpoint, I usually leave horses alone if:

1) They are coming off a long layoff and only have 1 qualifier"


--I certainly agree with your advice in that statement...one of the key added words you listed is "usually". May I add one more comment? I generally follow that advice you listed above re qualifiers...however, over the years I've noticed a few well-heeled trainers on some harness circuits, that win quite often with horses on the first start after a long layoff. I'm betting you've noticed that too about a few harness trainers.

T2W