| Handicap races are some of the hardest races to | | | | Types of handicap races. The only horses that are |
| fathom and it is not surprising that favourites tend to | | | | unlikely to race in handicap races are the very cream |
| win less handicaps than any other type of race. It can | | | | de la cream of horse racing the Group 1 grade horses. |
| be very difficult to find the winner in this type of race | | | | Other less talented horses will run in races appropriate |
| because they are designed to be difficult for the | | | | to their form. This can range from races for horses 0 |
| punter. | | | | to 65 in class up to races for horses rated between 0 |
| It is not an accident that on most Saturday afternoons | | | | and 100 on the flat. A similar system works for |
| in the UK there will be a big race sponsored by one of | | | | National Hunt racing although the scales are different. |
| the major bookmakers and it will n early always be a | | | | A second factor in handicap races can be age. For |
| handicap. These are the type of races that the | | | | instance a race may be restricted to 2 year olds and |
| bookmakers tend to do particularly well in. | | | | in this case they are called nursery handicaps. These |
| Handicaps are designed to give horses of differing | | | | races are not run before July because basically that |
| ability an equal chance to win the race. This is | | | | only just gives horse time to qualify for a handicap |
| achieved by allocating each horse a weight that is | | | | rating. A horse must normally run 3 times or have won |
| reflects its current form and ability. In the conditions of | | | | in a non-handicap race before a handicapper can |
| the race there will be an upper and lower weight limit. | | | | assess it. However, there are a few exceptions to this, |
| The job of deciding what weight each horse will carry | | | | a 2 years old can be rated even if it has not run 3 |
| is given to the official handicapper. | | | | times providing it has finished in the first four of at least |
| There are handicap races for all classes, abilities and | | | | one race. |
| types of horse both on the flat and over the jumps. | | | | |