One angle to watch out for at the end of the year, and at the beginning of the next year is what happens with 3 and 4 year olds who are racing in claimers. When racing against older horses, 3 year olds are given a 50% allowance, and 4 year olds are given a 25% allowance. Here's what this means.

Say you own a 3 year old, and you think the horse is worth, say $30,000. That's what you are willing to lose him for. So you put him in for a $30,000 claiming tag and he's racing against older horses. What is the claiming price on these older horses? $20,000. In other words, your horse (who you value at 30 grand) is racing against older horses who's owners value them at 20 grand. It's an advantage.

Now January 1 comes along, and your horse now has a 25% allowance, not 50%. If the same situation applies, and you still think he's worth 30K, then you will have to race him against older horses who are valued at $25,000, versus $20,000 when he was 3.

If we presume (which is not always the case) that on balance $25,000 claimers are tougher than $20,000 claimers, and you wish to keep the same value on your horse, you will have to move him up. It won't look like he's moving up cuz he's in for the same price, but he is.

This starts to manifest itself before the end of the year, where owners are positioning themselves for the next year. Some who have been very competitive at the current level may suddenly struggle. Some will drop down before the end of the year, to get a shot against softies before they lose the allowance and get bumped up, etc.

Nothing earth shaking, just be aware of 3 and 4 year old claimers who seem to be taking unexpected class plunges (like dropping after a win) in claimers.