ADDING PHYSICALITY TO YOUR DAILY HANDICAPPING VIA THE RACETRACK FEED-----Part 7
5---MUSCLING by Joe Takach
It is no great secret that heavily muscled horses win far more races than those lacking flesh.
One of the first things that is obvious even to the untrained eye is a horse’s bodyweight. You can make very quick judgments whether you are on track in the paddock, or viewing via the racetrack feed.
I break it down into 3 categories.
Some horses are too thin for my tastes, a few are nondescript or “so-so”, and the others hold good flesh.
What’s too thin?
If you can actually see the ribs protruding on any horse to the point where it is very easy to count them, you might want to look elsewhere if this was your “paper” selection when you first handicapped the race.
This is not to say that skinny horses never win races.
They do!
But when they beat better looking muscled horses, chances are the muscled horses had some other physical ailments such as enlarged ankles, an extension problem, breathing difficulties, or hoof problems necessitating a barshoe.
Even via the racetrack feed, be rest assured that it is very easy to see these skinny horses even when they are saddled and in the post parade.
That “5 second” glimpse is all you need. You merely need to look at the point of the hip that is directly behind the numbered saddlecloth. If the point of the hip is prominent and seems to protrude outwards, he’s far too skinny!
Heavily muscled horses are as easy to spot as the greyhounds.
When heavily muscled, there’s no protruding hipbone and the ribs are not clearly visible.
The stomach is firm and the chest is full.
The hindquarters, rump, and upper rear legs are massive and well endowed. This is the engine of the horse and what propels him forward.
He looks like an athlete, he’s built like an athlete and will most likely run like one.
He’s not on a starvation diet by a trainer squeezing his “day money” to the max. He hasn’t been standing in his stall since his last race with few if any published works showing.
Heavily muscled horses will usually show a very steady “no gaps” morning worktab and it matters not how fast or slow those works appear. A close examination of his entire worktab will most often show a well thought out pattern or series of drills that fully explains his excellent physical appearance.
Somewhere between the heavily muscled runner and the “anorexic-looking greyhound” falls the nondescript or “so-so” looking horse.
He’s neither skinny nor well endowed His muscles are indefinable. He doesn’t look “dead fit”, but at the same time he doesn’t look nearly as bad a ribby counterpart.
These “so-so” races win far more than do the greyhounds, but when facing a well muscled fit and ready runner, they have little chance of seeing the winner’s circle.
Physical characteristics are clearly visible and totally “free” via your racetrack feed if you pat strict attention to your monitor rather than burying your face in the past performances.
Do your “paper handicapping” at home, not at the racetrack.
PART 8-----TAILS
© Joe Takach 2007 |
