Handicapping Factors

[Ray2000]

Let's see if I can get a little help here. I'm redoing the Robot and am interested in how people rate the various factors in handicapping. This Forum has a lot knowledgeable 'cappers, so the poll results should be significant. The poll format doesn't lend itself to ranking so I'll get around it this way.

Assuming everyone would put Driver ability, current Sharpness (Form), and Post position, high on the list, I'll ask that you select 5 other most important (and only 5) from the factors listed above.

The factors are in alphabetical order as listed

Thanks Everyone

[melman]

OK Ray I voted. I'm sure the Robot and you both know and agree that A-Number One in s-bred capping is SIZE of the track. That fact alone makes post position and driver ability rank differently. However even with track size you still need extra. I.E. Harrington is a half mile track that makes early speed super important. Monticello is a half mile track where early speed is important but not even close to the importance of ES as at Harrington. Also "driver change" can be tricky. I.E. at M1 or WDB/MOH or YR there are a lot of good drivers. At a place like MR in can be a HUGE factor. Ray what ever your feeding that Robot now seems to me to be outstanding. Hope your poll results help in any "tweaking". Opps just wanted to add "the horse has the ability to rough it". By that I mean go to the outside on a solid pace and still not fold.

[Ray2000]

Right mel, Track size should have been included as well as shippers or changing tracks, break tendencies and some other factors which I hope voters will leave comments on.

Thx for your vote. (Sounds like I'm running for office )

[lamboguy]

i think that this may not be as important in harness as it is in thoroughbred, but track bias, track condidtion's and strength of the last race would be what would influence my bets.

i wonder if you might have an easy way to figure out the strength of the last race in harness. a good start would be to know all the trainers in the prior race. sometimes a maiden race could be a tougher field than a field full of winners, not often though.

[Ray2000]

Originally Posted by lamboguy

i wonder if you might have an easy way to figure out the strength of the last race in harness.

lambo
IMO

If one is handicapping by using TrackMaster programs, I don't put too much weight on their individual speed numbers, but oddly enough I do think their class numbers, (a derivative of speed numbers for the entire field), does give a reasonable strength for a race. If the difference between a horse's last race class and today's class is greater than 3 points, I consider that a step up or down.

[grant miller]

one of my strong points is that ,I stay with 1 circit(beffalo & batavia downs). I get a great feel for trainer moves ,driver choices& class. Im better at 1/2 mile than any thing else my betting mentor is always saying :whos gonna get the best trip.. thanks for the survey !

[beaucap]

Medication change is important....depending on who's training the horse

[Capper Al]

Using drivers instead of jockey, is this tool for harness racing?

[Ray2000]

CapperAl

Yes for Harness racing, I notice you have a similar poll running in the T-Bred Discussion Forum. Will be interesting to compare.

[Capper Al]

Originally Posted by Ray2000

CapperAl

Yes for Harness racing, I notice you have a similar poll running in the T-Bred Discussion Forum. Will be interesting to compare.

I believe the driver in harness racing is more important than the jockey in T-Breds.