Hi ipunter,

The higher the benchmark number, in theory, the better the quality of the runners.

So in your example RB75 is better class than RB62. A horse going from an RB75 to an RB62 will generally carry more weight than their last start as they are going down in class.

It is more complicated than this as they took a while to refine the system but for some scintillating late night reading, check out the Racing NSW explanation of the benchmark system:

Benchmark System

My general advice for starting out:

- Keep your money in your pocket until you have a good grasp of weights, times, class etc.
- Stick to one States racing. Get to know the horses running there and their patterns of racing. Do they perform first-up, need a few runs, prefer certain tracks etc. That goes for trainers and jockeys also.
- Start making prices for your horses or find a service that does it accurately. Ask questions - why is a horse shorter or longer than I predicted. You need to feel confident going against the crowd. Other punters are your enemies (in the nicest possible way). ha ha
- The harder you work, the luckier you'll get
- Start a bank and stick to level stakes
- Always seek the best prices for your investments
- Alcohol and investing on horse racing don't mix.

Best of luck!

The Schmile