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Basic Thoughts on Handicapping
This is a basic overall view of some of the important
points inHandicapping Greyhounds. For those of you
that would like to learn more, we will soon be listing
several different books that are available on Greyhound
and Horse RacingHandicapping in our Classified area.
Early Speed / Front Runners
There are two types of early speed greyhounds.One
type shows a strong break out of the box -the break
call is approximately four lengths from the starting
box.The other type tends to break moderately and then
rush or drive the firstturn.
Late Speed / Closers
Late speed greyhounds generally show a somewhat slow
break out of the box.They come to the 8th call following
the pack. From here on out is wherethe closers run
their race. Some may show a gradual gain throughoutthe
race, while others, which I refer to as drivers, wait
until late in therace tomake their move. This type
of a runner pushes hard in the stretch passing many
of the greyhounds and should never be underestimated.
Class
Determining the class of the race can be tough sometimes.This
can depend on the stats you have available to you.
Look firstto find the one showing the most "in the
money" finishesat the current grade racing. Next,
look for grade drops andhow competitive the greyhound
was in the higher grade. Class tends to bea much stronger
variable in higher grade races.
Time
This variable brings many arguments between handicappers.Some
tend to place this factor at the top of the list,
while othersconsider this lightly. Speaking for myself,
I have found a strongcorrelation with the greyhounds
having the fastest times generallywill also be the
class of the race.
Heart
This factor can be gauged as seen in our stats. If
a greyhound exhibits heart he shows the ability and
determinationto come back after finding trouble. This
type of greyhound will either finish in the money
or make a strong attempt to do so.
Trouble
How many times have you heard "If he wouldn't have
gotten intotrouble, he could have won." Trouble to
me is the toughestvariable you will find in handicapping.
“It is found in every race.”Sometimes with only one
or two greyhounds, but usually several.Coming into
the first turn is where most of the trouble occurs.
This iswhere the early speed/front runners can benefit
by being out of harms way.The positive aspect of trouble
is that it produces the higher payoffs.When selecting
your key greyhound in a wager consider his trouble
percentage. If he shows a high percentage of trouble
and doesn'tseem to benefit by his post position, look
to another greyhoundas a key.
Track Preference
Knowing where on the track a greyhound likes to run
can be veryimportant. Out of the starting box, some
may reach this area withoutcausing trouble.Others
may tend to slash or cut to the rail or outside. A
greyhound that tends to run the rail and is positioned
to the right of an midtrack orwide runnermay find
it hard to make their way around the other. This is
trueespecially ifboth greyhounds tend to break the
same.Some handicappers will play off this type of
a situation. Lookingto a greyhound who's running style
and post position will keep him clear of any possible
trouble.
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