If you are trying to pick enough winners to make money betting on horse races, you may have noticed that many races end with a photo finish. Did you ever think of what that really means in terms of picking winners and making a profit? The race may be anywhere from 5 furlongs (5/8's of a mile) to 12 furlongs (a mile and a half) and yet, at the end, two or more horses are so close that it takes technology and a photo to determine who won.
We think of races in terms of splits or fractions of a mile. We handicap pace by determining the quarter mile and half mile and sometimes three quarter mile calls. And yet, the final result may be determined by as little as a fraction of an inch based on the position of a horse's head and nose at the finish line.
Is it really that the runners in so many races are that closely matched? I doubt it. I think there are several other possibilities and they all have to do with human nature. The jockeys must determine how fast a front runner travels, if they can harness the speed and throttle back on the horse. Those that come from off the pace must also make a judgment call and stay within striking distance of the front runners.
Then there are the closers who come from way back with a big rush and try to win in the stretch or hitting the wire. Do you notice any common theme in this whole description of the running of a race? Could it be that the front runner(s) and when they hit the finish line is what the whole race is about? So much of the running of a thoroughbred race is based on rider judgment that looking anywhere else for answers to how the horses will finish is useless.
The question is, How well will the front runner's jockey manage that early speed? It is also wise to ask yourself, when handicapping a race, how well will the other jockeys each manage their own mount's running style and energy? This is why the fastest horse doesn't always win the race.
The winner is often the jockey who managed his or her mount's speed and who also had a mount with enough speed to time a perfect run at the front runner and finish line, or if he or she was on the front runner, then to time it perfectly so the horse had enough left to hold off the late challengers. Knowing how good a jockey manages pace and how much horse he or she has is key to winning, but always demand a fair price because in a game of inches, the finish is often close, but not quite a win.
If you want to learn how a horse owner and insider handicaps just go to http://horse-racing-handicapping.co/ and get the truth about betting on horses and winning. Bill Peterson is a former race horse owner and professional handicapper. To see all Bill's horse racing material go to Horse Racing Handicapping, Bill's handicapping store.
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