The best part about a trip to an Ontario racetrack is the chance to see beautiful, athletic racehorses up close.
Plus, looking at the horses as they prepare to race can be very helpful to your handicapping. Here are some tips to help you identify a horse who is ready to win based off their body language.
In the Paddock and Walking Ring
Racehorses come in all shapes and sizes. They can be tall or stout, long or stocky. A horse who is tall and long is most likely going to be most comfortable in longer races. Short and stocky horses tend to be sprinters.
The first thing you like to see as the horses arrive in the paddock for saddling is that they are relaxed and alert.
If your horse is agitated, nervous, and jumpy that often does not bode well for how the saddling process may go. Occasionally, horses may be accompanied into the paddock with a pony to keep them settled.
Once the saddle has been put on, the horse is usually walked around the paddock before the jockeys come out to greet their mounts.
Look at what the horse does when the rider climbs aboard; does the horse get a bit more spring in their step? Is the horse walking with purpose, almost like a march? Those are often good signs.
Horses who are prancing are feeling good and ready to go but, you don't want them overly excited. Conversely, if a horse acts up during saddling or looks lethargic, you might want to look elsewhere.
Sometimes it may be necessary to adjust a horse's shoe in the paddock if one has come loose or twisted. This is not automatically a negative but he sure to see how the horse acts once the repair is done.
You always want to see the horse you want to bet on moving evenly and putting each foot down with confidence.
This horse is prancing and excited to get going to the track. The rider has their feet out of the stirrups to get the horse to relax. So far, the horse looks great. Their tail is out and ears are up. You can see plenty of muscle definition in the hind end, and the horse is not getting overly hot. (horse-races.net photo)
Here is an Ontario Quarter Horse who is headed to the track after saddling. The neck is tucked in towards the body, and the horse is alert and on its toes. (Laurie Overton photo)
On the Track
Once the horses have assembled in the post parade on the track you can get a good view of how the horse is acting with just minutes before the race.
Here are some of my favourite (and successful) signs that I look for:
Ears, neck and tail: Look for a horse that has their ears forward but also flickering back, awaiting cues from the rider. A horse with a 'bowed' neck, in other words, their head and neck are turned in towards their chest, is a horse who is focused on their job and brimming with controlled energy.
When a horse has their tail lifted a bit and is holding it away from their body, that is a sign of a sharp and healthy horse. Combine this behaviour with the others mentioned and you have a horse ready to run a good race.
A close up image of a horse going to the starting gate. They are shiny, not sweaty with a bowed neck and a look that says they have business on their mind. (Laurie Overton photo)
Warming Up: You might see a racehorse take a little nip at the pony accompanying them. It's just a playful nip (which is why you may see ponies wearing protective leather on their shoulders) and it is another sign of readiness.
At the same time, you don't want your horse to be overly eager to the point where they are getting hard to handle or becoming sweaty.
A horse that gets very sweaty, or washy as it is called in racing, might be leaving their race in the warm-up. If it is not an overly hot day and the horse is showing lather on their neck and kidney area, you might want to place your $2 on another horse.
While a little bit of neck sweat, especially when it is hot outside, is nothing to be concerned about, a lot of lather on the neck and chest and in the kidney area is a negative sign.
Once the horse breaks into a light gallop with the pony alongside as they head to the starting gate, you like to see them reaching out and eager to get on with the warmup.
If a horse starts to 'freeze' in post parade, they don’t want to move. That is a very negative sign.
Last look: It is five minutes to post time and, unless you have your binoculars, you are taking one last look at the horse you want to bet on the television monitors.
In the final minutes before post time, the horses are now walking towards the gate. A jockey may have their feet out of the stirrups which is a way to get their horse to relax. You still want to see your horse looking confident and strong while not wasting any energy.
You may find when looking at a field of racehorses that most of the horses look great. This is especially true in stakes races. Handicapping a race by physical appearance is best used when seeking out a horse that may not be a public's choice and offers wagering value.
Video: Take a look at the post parade and running of the
Arkansas Derby (G1) this year from Oaklawn Park.
Most of the horses look sharp and on their toes, in particular horses 5, 6 and 7. But take a look at number 9 King Russell in post parade. This grey colt showed all the positive physical signs and at 50 to 1, finished second and paid $34.00 for a $2.00 place bet!
Head out to your favourite Ontario track and look at our beautiful racehorses and pick out your favourite.
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