Are there statistics available that show how often the favorite in a horse race wins, places, or shows?

Question

I'm speaking in general terms, not about how one specific horse has done.

Answer 1

i think you can find a couple of web sites with documentation such as at the daily racing form or equibase sites

from what i know it has historically always been 33 percent percent for the favorite to win in general. horses generally win according to their odds, that is why it is almost impossible to beat the horses with the twenty percent take out. as soon as you bet a buck, twenty cents of it goes to the track owners,the state,ect.

  

Answer 2

Typically if you go to a horse race or OTB place you can purchase programs for $1 or so that contain all that information.

But in my experience such information is meaningless.  You can get a horse that lost every single race, is 40-1 and suddenly it wins.  Or a horse that is even money favorite, has a stellar track record and comes in sixth.

I've been to an OTB numerous times and I've yet to see any real correlation between the horse history and what happens today.  In fact I've watched so called experts make numerous trips to the ATM, despite decades of expert knowledge with horses.

I don't think these programs are worth the paper they are printed on.  But then I am not an horse race expert.