Handicapping 101: Finding the Right Horses and Making the Right Bets

The handicapper is taught to master the nuts and bolts of handicapping by understanding today's advanced past performances, thus gaining a significant edge on the betting public.

Daily Racing Form handicapper Brad Free has written a primer that is set squarely in the new world of 21st-century handicapping, where new exotic bets dominate the $15 billion annual wagering handle and new training methods and racing schedules have transformed the game. Free walks new and old players through the enduring basics of speed, pace, class, and condition, with dozens of recent race examples and interviews with leading trainers and jockeys, then also explains each of the new wagers available to the modern fan. Are racehorses predictable? What are the key factors and where can they be found? Is it really possible to win at the races?

Free's resounding answer is yes-horseplayers can win! He explains that by learning how to read and interpret the past performances, and applying their own analysis and observations, fans can not only cash more tickets but also gain a deeper understanding and enjoyment of how racing really works.