How Do You Read Horse Racing Weights?

9-7 is the combined weight of the jockey and his equipment. The other horses carry less weight proportionate to their handicap ratings. So if a horse rated 80 in this race carries 9-7, then a 70-rated horse carries ten pounds less (that is 8-11) and a 66-rated horse 14 pounds less (8-7).

What does the weight mean in a horse race?

The weight allocated to a horse in a race refers to the weight of the jockey plus their kit (including the saddle). If the weight the horse is supposed to carry is more than the weight of the jockey plus their equipment the extra weight is made up by adding lead weights to the horse’s saddle cloth.

What does 7lb claimer mean?

Apprentices: – 7lb until they have won 20 races; – 5lb until they have won 50 races; – 3lb until they have won 95 races.

What does out of the weights mean in horse racing?

Horses are out of the weights when they run in a handicap where their Official Rating is lower than the lower limit of the weight range of the race.

Is a heavier or lighter horse better?

Higher weights win more often
Horses with lower weights are the least likely to win, although again it has to be said that class has a lot to do with this fact. Another key statistic to be aware of is that horses going up in weight (relative to their last start) have a far better strike-rate than horses down in weight.

What is a heavy 10 in horse racing?

10. Heavy. Heavy. Heaviest category track, very wet, towards saturation.

What does 3kg claimer mean?

As a jockey accumulates more wins and advances past set levels, the amount of weight he is able to claim reduces. An apprentice is able to claim 4kg till they have won five races, 3kg till they have won 30 races, 2kg till they have won 60 races and 1kg up to their 100th win.

Does weight matter in horse racing?

Does weight affect horse racing odds? Put simply, yes. The weight added to or deducted from a horse is all about making sure its racing betting odds are competitive. If a horse has bad form and a low OR coming into a race, their weight will likely be lower than their rivals, and so then their odds will fall.

What is a jockey weight allowance?

The 1lb safety allowance will be added to the longstanding 3lbs allowance that compensates for the weight of a jockey’s back protector. This increased 4lbs safety allowance aims to assist jockeys with managing the natural daily variations in their body weight and supporting their physical and mental well-being.

What is the best weight for a race horse?

An average horse weighs 900-2,000 pounds, depending on size and breed. A lean, racing fit Thoroughbred, for example, has an average weight of 900-1,100 pounds, while the average Clydesdale (think Budweiser) weighs in at 1,800-2,000 pounds.

How are horse weights calculated?

The calculation: (heartgirth x heartgirth) x body length ÷ by 330. This gives the weight of the horse in pounds (lbs). The heartgirth measurement: Take a measuring tape and measure all the way around the horse’s girth from the highest point of the wither going to just behind the elbows.

Does heavy load affect horse?

Put simply, the heavier the rider, the more likely the summative effects on horse performance. The same study has also confirmed that excessive rider weight can cause temporary lameness and discomfort.

What weight is too heavy to ride a horse?

Deb Bennett, PhD, founder of the Equine Studies Institute and an expert in the biomechanics of horses, has advised that the “Total weight of rider plus tack must not exceed 250 lbs. There is no horse alive, of any breed, any build, anywhere, that can go more than a few minutes with more weight on its back than this.

What happens if a jockey weighs in heavy or light after a race?

If a rider weighs in two pounds or more over the weight that he weighed out, the Clerk of the Scales will report the rider to the Stewards and may be suspended. The one pound under and two pound over tolerances reflect the weight loss or gain a rider may incur dependant on weather conditions.

How heavy is too heavy to ride a horse in KG?

As a general guideline in the UK, a rider should weigh no more than 10% of the horse’s bodyweight, but in the US, this limit is doubled to 20% of the horse’s weight. This means for a 500kg horse, the range for the maximum rider weight is large – 50kg in the UK (just less than 8st) and 100kg in the US (15st 10lb).

What does a soft 7 mean?

More rain-affected track that
Soft 7: More rain-affected track that will chop out. Heavy 8: Rain affected track that horses will sink into. Heavy 9: Wet track getting into a squelchy area. Heavy 10: Heaviest category track, very wet, towards saturation.

Is yielding softer than soft?

Unique to Irish racing, yielding is equivalent to the British good to soft.

Do race horses all carry the same weight?

A handicap race in horse racing is a race in which horses carry different weights, allocated by the handicapper. A better horse will carry a heavier weight, to give it a disadvantage when racing against slower horses.

What is a pineapple in horse racing?

Cheeky pineapple: $50 note. Clams: Cash, money, bucks, dollars.

What does 4kg claimer engaged mean?

The 4kg claim is intended to assist new apprentices in gaining important initial race rides. The allowance in NSW applies only to rides in the country and provincial areas as no apprentice may accept metropolitan rides until he has ridden five winners.

What does A3 jockey mean?

A Category A3 permit allows you to ride in all races that a Category A1 permit holder can ride in as well as in Point to Point Steeplechases.