
What is Horse Handicapping?
Simply put, horse handicapping is the art of predicting horses who have the greatest chance of winning a race. And no one does it better than Wunderdog Sports. The Sport of Kings has had a home here since I started making picks and it takes a keen eye and (ahem) horse sense to pick winners in one of the oldest wagering sports on earth.

Horse Racing Picks: Some Factors To Consider
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The Track conditions: certain track conditions vastly favor different styles of runners.
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Breeding: Pedigree analysis is only significant when analyzing a horse that has not had ample (or no) opportunity to show what it can do under today's conditions. First-time-starters bred for sprint speed vs. those bred to run best going longer. Sprinters trying to go long. Dirt types moving to turf.
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Speed: Speed is pretty easy to explain, as the horse that runs the fastest generally wins more races.But there is a bit more to it than that as I look at training races and "speed figures" to determine which animal has the best chance of winning a race.
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Pace: Pace is perhaps one of the strongest determining factors in horse handicapping. Pace is used to determine the running style of each horse and whether they are a front runner, stalker, presser, or closer.
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Form: Form is simply an "eye test." If you see that a horse ran well in a previous outing or training session, chances are that they are in good form for a repeat performance.
Style: Each style is very different and can go a long way to determine who goes to the winner's circle.
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Class: Another great tactic in picking racing winners is the form of the race horse. You probably wouldn't but a college baseball pitcher in to pitch to the New York Yankees lineup. The same goes for horse racing and that is the "class" of the horse. There are different levels of racing where class becomes a huge factor as faster horses tend to race against faster and slower vs. slower. So you wouldn't put a slower overall horse in against a crew of fireballs and hope to come out ahead, right?
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Post position: Post position is another mitigating factor in handicapping the horses. The horse that is placed on the outside of the track has a longer distance to travel than the racers nearer to the rail (inside). Now this may sound pretty elementary, but it is a huge factor that can vastly affect the outcome of the races.
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Jockey: The jockey piloting the horse has a lot to do with the pace of the animal, and I factor that too.
- Even the horse's body language can be a factor!
I got into more detail on some of these factors in this article on horse handicapping.
My Free Horse Racing Picks
With all that said, there are still numerous other things to consider when making your picks. To see all of these in practice, sign up for my free picks, judge for yourself and we'll meet up in the winner's circle!
I have changed with the times, and have incorporated parts of all of these factors into my selection process as well as others with my horse racing picks. They are all tools, and like all tools they can build or destroy. The only one I would put well above the others is my knowledge of what I see every day. Since I do this EVERYDAY, I find it second nature to view as many as 50 to 80 races each afternoon. Some I may look at as many as 3 or 4 times to find that hidden nuances that would escape the average viewer. I take extensive trip notes, track bias notes, post position & hot and cold trainer and rider combinations. All of these elements are necessary in arriving at a sound, logical selection process. I do this for others just as diligently as I do it for myself. As important as all of the new information available to the horseplayer, are the wagers themselves.
In that long ago era mentioned above, the only exotic wager available was the daily double and maybe a tri-fecta on the final race of the card. Now the possibilities are endless. I incorporate win bets, exactas, trifectas and pick-3's and an occasional pick-4 into our wagering strategy with our horse handicapping picks & tips. Again the key is to use your knowledge of handicapping to correctly assess what type of wagering strategy fit's the situation best. Most of my daily selections come from major tracks from around the country. This includes tracks running now such as Aqueduct in New York, Keeneland/ Churchill Downs in Kentucky, Finger Lakes in upstate New York, which is a track I love to bet on and any other racing venue where I feel a potential winning play can be spotted. In my wagering strategies, I give you suggested amounts for every play I makeon my horse handicapping picks. This is just a guideline. Each day when I post my results, they are based on the exact amounts which I have stated.
How To Bet The Triple Crown
Kentucky Derby Picks
We all know this is the “the most exciting two minutes in sports”, but if you're placing a bet, take it to a new level with my full Kentucky Derby Picks Package! It will make that Mint Julep so much more fresh when you have my expertise on your side. I make this available a couple weeks before the event, so check here for my current pricing as the date approaches! I will also offer the triple crown package on this same page.
Preakness Picks
The Preakness is the middle race of the Triple Crown, so I can compile the data from the Kentucky Derby and make tweaks to refind my picks for the Preakness. I share some of my betting strategies and expertise with every pick, so be sure to sign up for my newsletter. You'll get notified of any sales or deals & get first dibs on the my Preakness Picks Package before race day. I will also offer the triple crown package on this same page.
Belmont Picks
The third and final race in the triple crown is sure to impress. Usually in the first or second week of June, this race is 1.5 miles long and packed with potential winners. I make my package available for purchase a few weeks prior, so you can get my picks straight to your inbox in time to place your bets or wager with your friends. Check my stats for prior years in the past picks and then get yourself the Belmont picks package here. Remember, my picks are backed by hours of horse racing analysis.