The one certain thing about handicapping Thoroughbred racing is that there is no certain thing about handicapping Thoroughbred racing!  Every time the gates open, any one of those horses can be a winner, whether he is the favorite or a 99-1 longshot.  So, how can you help yourself to possibly find out which horse is going to win prior to those gates opening?

The races which usually provide the biggest payouts at Sam Houston Race Park are maiden races.  Maiden races are for horses which have never won a race at any time in their careers.  The most difficult horses to handicap in maiden races are first-time starters.  The reason they can be hard to figure is that they have no history on the racetrack at all.  However, there are some things to look for in first-time starters that might lead you to find the proverbial needle in the haystack.

The State of Texas has long been a haven for Thoroughbred racing.  The state’s King Ranch produced Triple Crown winner, Assault, in 1946 and another Kentucky Derby and Belmont horse in 1950 with Middleground plus a Belmont winner only in 1954 with High Gun.  So, while pari-mutuel wagering is still relatively new to the Lone Star State, there is a rich racing history here.  Here are some thoughts on Texas racing.

Sam Houston Race Park features one of the best turf courses in North America, the Connally Turf Course.  The surface has always been applauded by horsemen who have brought their runners to Texas.  The highlight race of the Houston turf season is always the Grade 3 $200,000 Connally Breeders’ Cup Turf.  I enjoy handicapping turf races more than any other kind of Thoroughbred race out there.  Here are some thoughts on how to be a winner of some green on the green.

Thoroughbred sprints are generally one-turn affairs ranging in distance from five to seven furlongs.  Speed is, of course, a natural consideration for success in these kinds of races, but there are other factors that you have to look into in order to cash winning tickets in shorter Thoroughbred races.  Among them are the following:

Horse races at a distance of one mile or more are referred to as route races.  In fact, the “classic” distance for Thoroughbred racing in this country in 1¼ miles, the distance for the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’ Cup Classic.  Most of the route races at Sam Houston Race Park are at one mile, one mile and seventy yards, and one mile and one-sixteenth.  Here are some thoughts for handicapping these races.

SPEED, SPEED, and SPEED- Just like real estate where the most important three things are location, location, and location, when it comes to American Quarter Horse racing, speed, speed, and speed are the three biggest factors.

THOSE ARE THE BREAKS- The start or the “break” of an American Quarter Horse race is the most important aspect of that race. Since the races are typically run at such short distances, the better a horse starts the race, the better it’s chances of being a factor in that race.

HORSE FOR THE COURSE- The racing surface at Sam Houston Race Park is made up of Brazos River Sand. It is a very forgiving surface and not quite as punishing on horses’ legs as some racetracks surfaces are.

THE HUMAN LEAGUE- Having the best horse is always a key to winning when wagering at the racetrack. However, the best horse is often associated with the best connections.