What does "had to need" mean?

Question

What does it mean when a handicapper says a horse "had to need" a race? Is it different from just "needs to win his race"?

Answer 1

I think it refers to if the horse has a goal of winning this race or is just in route to another goal.  If the horse needs to win, if this race is his goal, he'll run harder than if he doesn't need this one or if he's shooting for another goal.

For example, say this is 2 weeks before the Kentucky Derby and there's a few spots that will be determined by this weeks race...  our horse is on the borderline...  he won't get in to the Derby if he doesn't win today.  He needs the race.

Say he's running against Street Sense who has already secured his spot and is just using this race as a prep for the Derby.  Think of the Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway last weekend...  Street Sense didn't need to win...  he was more concerned with the BC Classic...  he just needed a good work...  it would be stupid for him to go all out and waste energy that he'd need in his next race.  In that situation, you might say that Street Sense "had to need" that race.  Since he didn't need to win the KY Cup Classic, it was easier for other horses to catch him that day...  that's how Hard Spun beat him (and he did run a good race that day).

I'm pretty sure that's what it means.

Answer 2

THe horse needed the run

Answer 3

had to need means......the horse was coming off a long layoff...and needed

a race...sometimes they need 2 races before they run their best race....

tip horse.....santa anita on sunday......race 10.....# 5 horse will run

big......