How do I know which horse ran against tougher competition.?

Question

Both horses ran at the same class and finished second.

Answer 1

If you really want to know buy a racing form and look at how the other horses in each race had ran in what class races.Beyer ratings would give the performance level of each horse but not  complete competition toughness..One of the horses may have ran a real fast race against lesser competition but ran second. The other ran second in a slow race against much higher class horses dropping.The Beyer is a good rating for races ran.But tougher competition would involve looking at past performances of others in each race.so many things have to be considered same track,distance,track condition.There is also a number posted on each race before the speed rating .Its a track variant number giving you  the way the horses ran compared to races under the same conditions of this race.This also gives you an idea of which horse ran better that last race.But the competition level you have to figure out yourself .Racing form,alot of time involved,that is what makes a good handicapper and picking winning horses.Odds do not mean that much as it is parimutual betting and not all that many betters really  spend  enough time or understand conditions of past performances  to see clues that often led to an upset winner, Best of luck at the windows and for some reason that has nothing to do with form always bet a gray horse i was once told.I have won lots doing it.luck I guess.

Answer 2

I would rely on two items: the Beyer Speed Figure, which takes into account many variables or the Brisnet past performance sheet, which will give you an outstanding variety of info & trends, with a focus on the immediate last races.

Answer 3

On some racing programs, there is a plus sign (+) next to a previous race which denotes a rise in class or competition or a minus sign (-) for a drop in class or cometition.

Hope that helps!