The Fundamentals

Question 1

What are the four fundamentals in handicapping?

Answer 1

Speed, Class, Pace, and Form

Question 2

What are the three attributes of Thoroughbred class?

Answer 2

Speed, Stamina, and Determination

Question 3

What are the new indicators of evaluating class?

Answer 3

1. Speed figures
2. Pace ratings
3. Patterns of improvement
4. Performance and graded stakes

Question 4

What are speed figures useful for?

Answer 4

Speed figures are useful for comparing horses that have run on different days, at different distances, and a different race tracks.

Question 5

What is track variance?

Answer 5

Track variance is deviations from the expected track-surface speed

Question 6

What are par times?

Answer 6

The average time a particular class of Thoroughbreds can be expected to run a particular distance at a particular track.

Question 7

Between speed and class, which do maiden races favor?

Answer 7

Speed

Question 8

Between speed and class, which do maiden claiming races favor?

Answer 8

Class

Question 9

Between speed and class, which do claiming races favor?

Answer 9

Speed

Question 10

Between speed and class, which do allowance races favor

Answer 10

Class

Question 11

Between speed and class, which do stakes races favor

Answer 11

Some combination of speed and class

Question 12

Between speed and class, which do sprints favor?

Answer 12

Speed

Question 13

Between speed and class, which do routes favor?

Answer 13

Class

Question 14

Between speed and class, which do races on dirt favor?

Answer 14

Speed

Question 15

Between speed and class, which do races on turf favor

Answer 15

Class

Question 16

What is the expected Beyer par for maden males 3UP in New York and Southern California?

Answer 16

2 lengths in sprints

3 lengths in routes

Question 17

What is the Beyer equivalent for one length?

Answer 17

2-1/2 points in springs

2 points in routes

Question 18

What is the expected Beyer par for maiden females 3UP in New York and Southern California?

Answer 18

83 in sprints

82 in routes

Question 19

Par begin equal, in Maiden Races of 3UP, which horses are generally difficult for first starters to beat?

Answer 19

Second starters

Question 20

What criteria improves the chances of first starters in 3UP Maiden Races?

Answer 20

1. Trainer wins 11% of first starters since January of preceding calendar year
2. Sire wins with 11% of first starters
3. 2 or 3 sharp workouts

Question 21

What extra credit should you give first starters in 3UP Maiden Races?

Answer 21

Trainer wins 20% of their first starters since January of the preceding calendar year.

Question 22

What is considered a sharp workout?

Answer 22

12 seconds per furlong
4 furlongs faster than 48 seconds
5 furlongs faster than 1:00
6 furlongs faster than 1:13
7 furlongs faster than 1:27

Question 23

What sort of workouts should you look for in 3UP Maiden Races?

Answer 23

2 or more sharp workouts without special urging

Question 24

Given the trainer-sire-workout criteria, when should you bet on high priced maidens in 3UP Maiden races?

Answer 24

When experienced maidens remain below par and second starters do not project to par

Question 25

What odds make money with the trainer-sire-workout criteria?

Answer 25

8-1 or higher

Question 26

How should you bet if 2 of the sire-trainer-workout criteria are negative?

Answer 26

No bet

Question 27

What is the Beyer par for Aqueduct-Belmont Park-Saratoga

Answer 27

88 Beyer

Question 28

What is the Beyer par for Santa Anita-Hollywood Park-Del Mar?

Answer 28

88 Beyer

Question 29

What is the Beyer par for Golden Gate Fields

Answer 29

80 Beyer

Question 30

How do first starters do in 3up Maiden Races?

Answer 30

First starters do not win their fair share of maiden races.

Question 31

How do second starters do in 3UP Maiden Races?

Answer 31

Second starters win significantly more than their fair share of maiden races

Question 32

How do experienced maidens do in 3UP Maiden Races?

Answer 32

Experienced maidens that equaled par last time will be difficult to beat?

Question 33

What three kinds of maidens warrent support in 3UP Maiden Races?

Answer 33

Maidens that equaled par last time
Second starters that project to par with normal improvement
First starters that satisfied the trainer-sire-workout criteria