What is your strategy when picking a horse to win the race? What do you look for in the program?

Question

What is it that you look for in the program book that makes you think he will win? Do you look for best time, move up/down in class, added equipment.......what do you see that works the best or what combination of things do you look for. Also does anyone know a good website for tips?

Answer 1

I look at this factors, in something like this order:

Class--a horse that has run in better races will have an edge over those who have faced lesser fields.

Speed--which horses are the fastest?

Pace--does the horse front run or can it come from off the pace?

Distance--which horses have the best record at this or similar distance?

Surface--how do the runners handle turf/dirt/polytrack/wet as may apply to the race?

Trainer--horses from good barns are prefered over inconsistent ones.

Jockey--I want a rider that knows what they are doing in the saddle.

Pedigree--especially for younger horses, what type of success has the animal's siblings had?

When these things all converge, that's what I like to bet.

Answer 2

I look only for the numbers 1 thru 9.  Nothing else matters.  Silly, no one is gonna tell you how it's done.  Ask the horse.

Answer 3

I look closely at recent works and lifetime earnings.  I also love the turf to dirt angle.