How often is a horse claimed in a claiming race?

Question

I am just curious as to the approximate odds of any specific horse being claimed in a race. Just an estimate. 1 out of every race , or 1 horse out of the whole nights card? Thanks

Answer 1

about 1 per race....if you average it out....

a good play is always a trainer who claims

out of a race, he has a horse in.....

all claims must be in before 15 minutes to

post. if more than 1 trainer puts in a claim

they draw numbers from a cup the trainer

with the number 1 wins the right to claim

that horse. if horse wins race, old owners

get to take photo and purse winnings. if

horse breaks down on track, then the new

owners have a lame horse to deal with.

Answer 2

I don't think anyone can give you approximate odds-- it depends on a lot of factors, like the claiming price (obviously more people can afford to claim a horse for $12,500 than for $50,000), the race track, the kind of claiming race (maiden claimers? state-breds? Fillies and mares vs. colts and geldings?).  Also depends to some extent on how long the race meet has been going on-- obviously more people are going to be eligible to claim a horse later in the meet than early.  

Also depends on the perception horsemen have of the horse or horses in question.  In general, state-bred claiming races will generate fewer claims than open claiming races for the same price, because in general a state-bred claimer is not as good a runner as one running for the same price in open races.  

Some trainers intend to get rid of a horse when they drop it into claiming company, and they'll keep on dropping it in price until someone takes it;  others try to spot a horse around where it can win some purse money at low risk of being claimed.  

It all just depends.  I've seen some races where almost every horse in a field of 12 gets claimed and I've seen lots of races where nobody gets claimed.

Answer 3

Our thoroughbred rules for claiming say you must have had a horse run during that meeting at that track before you can claim a horse (therefore the comment of not claiming from another trainer or owner and claims only coming from outside tracks is not true).  There is also a first/one-time claim rule for new owners.  Therefore fewer horses get claimed early in the meeting and more as the meet goes on.  Also, you must continue to run a claimed horse at that track through the end of the meet.  Again making the end of the meeting more claim friendly.  It's probably close to one per race.  Many races have no claims and I've seen as many as four claimed out of a race.  There is an unwritten rule not to claim a horse from a one horse stable, but that doesn't work either because we were a one horse stable and had our 3 year old filly claimed at Philadelphia Park.

Claiming works for keeping equally talented horse running against each other but can be a bad thing for the little guys who just want to be apart of the whole experience

Answer 4

If they are all madens in the race then there will most likely be no chance of them being claimed.

Answer 5

It truly depends on the field - if its early in the season - most claiming races are run with the understanding between horseman that you dont actually claim another stables horse - of course people from other tracks dont necessarily abide by those "rules" of ettiquette.Its always a risk.Later in the season.the odds go up if your running a horse whos qualified for end of season stakes .Ive seen entire cards go with no one claiming a soul.And Ive seen many go on a single card.Its like racing its self - it can go either way.