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Thoroughbred Horse Racing SurfacesSome horses like the new poly tracks, or synthetic tracks and some horses have had a tough time adjusting to the footing.
Since the new track surfaces have been around for some time now, most experienced horse race handicappers have adjusted their handicapping accordingly.
Just as with turf races, dirt, sand, and all surfaces in between, there are some accepted ideas that seem to be prevalent but may not always hold up under the keen eye of the professional horse race handicapper, let alone scientific scrutiny.
For instance, it is a widely held opinion that early speed cannot be sustained and that closers have a big advantage on synthetic tracks.
But a closer look at the figures indicates that cheap early speed fades. [A sprinter does not make a distance/route contender]. That isn't anything new and applies to all track surfaces. A quality horse with early speed that is a good fit for the class of that particular race can still win on synthetic surfaces.
So what should a thoroughbred horse race handicapper look for when trying to spot a winner on poly track surfaces?
There is a golden key and it is often hidden from the casual player. Here are some things that work when trying to pick winners on poly tracks:
First of all, look for a horse who has had at least one effort on the poly track or who has been working out regularly on the poly track surface.
Often you will find that a horse will do better on its second outing on the synthetic surface because it is familiar with it. [Kinda like Mickey-some horses will like it more than others]
Horses are like people, they do better when they know what to expect. If you look at the winners at your local track with a poly surface, you'll find that many of them ran a good race on the synthetic track the first time out and improved on that race to win the second time out.
Successful horse race handicappers often will give the edge to a maiden first time starter if it has been working on the synthetic surface. This may sound like common sense, but a lot of players will miss the play when they see more impressive works from another runner who has been training on dirt.
You also need to check those internal fractions. Closers and horse who can come from off the pace do seem to win a lot of races on the poly surface.
So if a horse made a big move but failed to win last time out, look for that horse to win. Pace horse handicappers are doing well with synthetic race surfaces because they look at the hidden fractions that the casual player usually misses.
The way to check to see if your horse made a good move is to compare the speed in the last quarters of a race to the speed in the earlier part of the race. Also, look at the overall pace of the race itself.
Thoroughbred horse race handicapping and actually winning at the races isn't impossible, but it is challenging. You can look at the introduction of synthetic surfaces as an obstacle or another chance to get an edge. Use these simple steps and you will see that the poly track can produce some nice winning payoffs.
Like any other kind of horse handicapping, though, winning on the poly surface takes discipline, focus, and solid money management. The racing surface is just part of the game.
Horse racing handicapping and wagering, although a legal form of gambling, does not guarantee that the risk of losing your money has been eliminated.
Always wager with money that you can afford to lose, do not violate your money management rules, and do not be greedy, there will always be another horse race to wager on.
Fact: Only 2% of all horse race handicappers actually make money wagering.
Visit http://www.HorseRaceHandicappingCollege.com for more information.
