Horse Racing Weight Handicapping and Betting Odds

We're all used to hearing "The horse has the class," to justify why a horse handicapped with a high weight should win. Similarly we're told "It's a 54 minimum. So the horse is only six kilos above the minimum."

Those sort of comments do not show an understanding of how handicaps affect most horses. The more weight, the less class a horse will have. Give a horse enough weight and it will have no class.

In a handicap, by the time horses have to carry 59kg. (60 with the safety vest), many become very dubious betting propositions at short odds. Similarly with jumpers - 70kg. (71 with the safety vest) is a very tough proposition.

The table below shows how horses that carried 59kg. or more in a handicap and were supported in the bookmakers' betting ring market - with a starting price of $11.00 or shorter - recently fared. (The safety vest is not included in the weight.) We're updating each week. It's certainly worth looking at this information over the long term.

Warwick Farm - 21/8/2010
Horse	Weight	Barrier	Distance	SP Odds	Finish
Gergis	60.5kg.	7	1600	$5.50	5/10
Moonee Valley - 21/8/2010
Horse	Weight	Barrier	Distance	SP Odds	Finish
Cameo Minx	59kg.	5	2040	$3.80fav.	8/10
Doomben - 21/8/2010
Horse	Weight	Barrier	Distance	SP Odds	Finish
Forestreno	59kg.	1	1200	$4.40	1/8
Morphettville - 21/8/2010
Horse	Weight	Barrier	Distance	SP Odds	Finish
Swift Bay	59.5kg.	2	1200	$8.00	11/11
Rosehill - 14/8/2010
Horse	Weight	Barrier	Distance	SP Odds	Finish
Centennial Park	59kg.	4	1100	$4.80	2/5
Morphettville - 14/8/2010
Horse	Weight	Barrier	Distance	SP Odds	Finish
Maestro Of Murano	59kg.	9	2006	$8.00	2/9
Silky Smooth	60kg.	10	1600	$9.00	10/15
Randwick - 7/8/2010
Horse	Weight	Barrier	Distance	SP Odds	Finish
Kudeta	59.5kg.	1	1300	$8.00	3/12
Flemington - 7/8/2010
Horse	Weight	Barrier	Distance	SP Odds	Finish
Perturbo	59kg.	10	1000	$4.60fav.	8/13
Galbraith	59kg.	4	1000	$10.00	10/13
Caulfield - 31/7/2010
Horse	Weight	Barrier	Distance	SP Odds	Finish
Stoneblack	59kg.	2	1800	$8.00	8/16
Randwick - 24/7/2010
Horse	Weight	Barrier	Distance	SP Odds	Finish
Geared Up	59.5kg.	5	1000	$7.00	3/7
Moonee Valley - 24/7/2010
Horse	Weight	Barrier	Distance	SP Odds	Finish
Pinnacles	60kg.	1	1514	$7.00	5/13
Morphettville - 24/7/2010
Horse	Weight	Barrier	Distance	SP Odds	Finish
Likable Will	59.5kg.	2	1000	$8.00	4/10
Verco Road	59kg.	6	1400	$4.00fav.	5/14
Caulfield - 17/7/2010
Horse	Weight	Barrier	Distance	SP Odds	Finish
Stoneblack	59kg.	4	2000	$5.50	6/11
Jungle Ruler	59kg.	3	1400	$10.00	8/11
Morphettville - 17/7/2010
Horse	Weight	Barrier	Distance	SP Odds	Finish
Golden Snip	59kg.	6	1200	$6.00	2/8
Randwick - 10/7/2010
Horse	Weight	Barrier	Distance	SP Odds	Finish
Offhanded	60kg.	4	1200	$1.75fav.	2/4
Daytona Beach	59kg.	8	1600	$5.50	1/10
Flemington - 10/7/2010
Horse	Weight	Barrier	Distance	SP Odds	Finish
Mont Fleuri	59kg.	5	1600	$7.00	2/13
Eagle Farm - 10/7/2010
Horse	Weight	Barrier	Distance	SP Odds	Finish
Firebolt	59kg.	9	1800	$2.40fav.	1/14
Moonee Valley - 3/7/2010
Horse	Weight	Barrier	Distance	SP Odds	Finish
Spirited Eagle	59kg.	7	1200	$2.90fav.	1/10
Stoneblack	59kg.	4	2040	$3.50fav.	1/8
Sunshine Coast - 3/7/2010
Horse	Weight	Barrier	Distance	SP Odds	Finish
King Mufhasa	60kg.	7	1400	$7.00	3/12

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