A handicap race in

horse racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

is a race in which each horse is assigned a specific weight to carry, determined by its past performance and perceived ability. Stronger horses carry more weight, while less accomplished ones carry less. This system aims to equalize the chances of all horses in the race. The skill in betting on a handicap race lies in predicting which horse can overcome its handicap. Although most handicap races are run for older, less valuable horses with less prize money, this is not true in all cases; some prestigious races are handicaps, such as the

Grand National The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England. First run in 1839, it ...

steeplechase, Betfair Stayers' Handicap Hurdle in the UK and the

Melbourne Cup The Melbourne Cup is an annual Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne, Australia, at the Flemington Racecourse. It is a 3200-metre race for three-year-olds and older, conducted by the Victoria Racing Club that forms part of the ...

in Australia. In the United States, over 30 handicap races are classified as Grade I, the top level of the North American grading system.

Handicapping in action

In a horse handicap race (sometimes just called "handicap"), each horse must carry a specified weight called the impost, assigned by the racing secretary or steward based on factors such as past performances, so as to equalize the chances of the competitors. To supplement the combined weight of jockey and saddle, up to the assigned impost, lead weights are carried in saddle pads with pockets, called lead pads. The weight-for-age scale was introduced by

Admiral Rous Admiral Henry John Rous (23 January 1795 – 19 June 1877) was an officer of the British Royal Navy, who served during the Napoleonic Wars, and was later a Member of Parliament and a leading figure in horse racing. Biography Family background a ...

, a steward of the

Jockey Club The Jockey Club is the largest commercial horse racing organisation in the United Kingdom. It owns 15 of Britain's famous racecourses, including Aintree Racecourse, Aintree, Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Epsom Downs Racecourse, Epsom ...

. In 1855, he was appointed public handicapper. In Britain, the horses are assigned weights according to a centralised rating system maintained by the

British Horseracing Authority The British Horseracing Authority, also known as the BHA, is the regulatory authority for horse racing in Great Britain. It was formed on 31 July 2007, after the merger of the British Horseracing Board (BHB) and the Horseracing Regulatory Au ...

(BHA). Weights may be increased if a horse wins a race between the publication of the weights and the running of the contest.

Predicting the outcome of races

In the USA, (thoroughbred) handicapping may also refer to the act of predicting and betting on horse racing.

References

{{Reflist Harness racing Horse racing terminology Handicapping

Handicapping in action

Predicting the outcome of races

See also

References