How to Handicap Harness Racing
Handicapping harness racing is intellectually challenging and potentially profitable. Harness racing is different than thoroughbred racing, and should be handicapped accordingly. When handicapping harness racing, bettors should look for good horses and successful trainers, glean information from the racing program and know which bets to make.
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Instructions
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What to Look for
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1
Look for consistent horses. Harness horses---or trotters---run much more often than thoroughbred horses. Good horses perform consistently, and often finish in the money (top three places) or close to it.
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Know the successful trainers. Trainers' records are listed on the racing program and on harness racing websites. Some trainers are particularly successful at certain tracks, and can provide more value for your wagers than others.
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3
Look for horses that have favorable post positions. Horses on the inside (positions 1, 2, and 3) often have an easier "trip," or race, than those on the outside. Though a post position won't make a mediocre horse run like a champion, it can provide an edge between two comparable horses.
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Learn how to read a program. A racing program contains a lot of information, and processing all of it can be exhausting. You can purchase a program at any off-track betting parlor, at a live racetrack, or at some newsstands. The links below offer a detailed tutorial on reading a program.
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Make proper wagers. Favorites win in harness racing about 40 percent of the time, so do not bet favorites too often. Mix up your wagering with exotic bets such as exactas (the first two finishers in a race). Win, place or show bets are much easier to hit than exotic bets, though, so be selective in your betting.
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Tips & Warnings
Harness horses often race more than once a month, so if you follow the sport at particular tracks, you will see the same horses run repeatedly. This will allow you to get a sense of their running styles, and will help in your handicapping.
