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Trying to understand 'The Claiming Game'
I am regularly amazed at the number of times some horses are claimed, over and over again, at tracks like Parx. Just glancing down the pages of races on a daily basis, I can find races where the average age is over 5 and more horses beyond 5 in many cases; they are routinely claimed every 2-3 races, and NOT ALWAYS BACK AND FORTH. By that I mean, sometimes the owner or trainer reclaims the horse right back but this is not usually the case with these horses.
If 6 or 7 of the 8 or 9 running are quite likely to be claimed from the race, what becomes the incentive to claim from such a race?
I do realize that these horses don't fit the conditions of many of the races being carded at their local track.
What is the actual, or theoretical advantage of entering a horse in such a race?
I truly believe that a greater percentage of the horses are not making a winning attempt in such a race.
The 'Money' is usually quite 'well-directed' in such a race, as well. I know this because I am generally very close to correct in predicting the outcome of many different types of races, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THESE RACES. Not saying I make money at the game, far from it. Just that I do quite poorly at these, and have been reluctant to 'FOLLOW THE MONEY' (thus changing my normal methods instead. My regular methods would encourage me 'NOT TO BET AGAINST A HORSE WHO APPEARS A STAND-OUT ON THE FORM'
The races in question however, will often ignore completely ignore horses which appear as standouts to me, and their jockeys seem reluctant indeed, to 'JOIN THE FRAY.' This puts me on more long-odds horses and they often run to their odds, or worse~!!!
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