No Horsing Around – Top Horse Racing Tips Regarding Form
Friday, May 10th, 2013
Horse racing form is a code that the newspapers and race cards use in order to show how a horse has performed in its recent races. If you’re interested in improving your betting chances, learning how to interrupt this code can make all the difference.
To help you get some change in your pocket, we’ve provided some top tips on how to interpret the form jargon and get a winning result.
Track-Record
The most useful information form can give you is the horse’s position from its last three races. Race cards will typically display this information with three characters. Example: R30.
The numbers will tell you where, in the top three to four, the horse has placed. If you see a 0, this normally signals that the horse failed to place highly. A lot of 0s means bad odds.
The letters stand for reasons why the horse didn’t finish.
R – Refusal to race.
P – Horse pulled up and didn’t finish.
F – Faller (jump racing).
U – Unseated its rider.
Again, be wary of a race card that features a lot of letters.
Weight
When it comes to the jockey’s weight, don’t be afraid to get judgmental. This information generally appears next to a jockey’s name. Example: 11-10. Make sure you compare how much one horse carries with another. On one hand, a heavier jockey may indicate a strong horse. On the other, it’s worth remembering that the more weight a horse carries, the slower it becomes.
Age
Next to the jockey’s weight, you can usually find the horse’s age. Make sure to factor in a horse’s age if relevant to the particular event. Flat race horses start a lot earlier (2 to 5) than horses competing in jumping races (5 to 12).
You want to be a little cautious when it comes to older horses. While old age can mean good experience, it can also mean the horse is past its prime. For the best results, compare age with the horse’s latest races. If an older horse has a bad track record, it could mean it’s time to hit the pastures.
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