Next week, we are going to begin to talk about the most important part of the handicapping equation .... we're going to start to answer the question: What is Shape? Until then, here’s a pop quiz … after you do it, email me your answers, because I would like to know what you’re thinking and why - it will help me to explain. Do it honestly – answer what you think, not what you feel I want you to say. These will also help you to understand and see what your natural inclinations are. These aren’t trick questions. I’m putting them here as a way of learning and exploring, not humiliating anyone. For all these questions, assume a fast track, a mile track, normal bias and that they are all of the same general ability level, all racing recently, all at the same track, all had racing room - no tricks here, no smart alek stuff. (p = parked). In each case - assume that the only thing you know about the horse is what I tell you – pretend you walked into the track and this was all you have.
QUESTIONS 1-5 ARE BASED ON THE SAME SET OF HYPOTHETICAL FRACTIONS … THE HORSES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED INDEPENTLY AND NOT NECESSARILY AS PARTICIPANTS IN THE SAME RACE:
QUESTION 1. - Horse A - usually races best off the pace.
HORSE A 27.4 57.1 1:25.2 1:55.2 ...............3 6 5p 4p 4/2 ¾ 2/nk
Based on this one line alone:
a) the horse is definitely in shape.
b) the horse is probably in shape.
c) the horse is not necessarily in shape.
d) the horse is definitely out of shape
e) you really cannot tell.
QUESTION 2. - Horse B - usually races best off the pace.
HORSE B 27.4 57.1 1:25.2 1:55.2 ............7 8 8p 8pp 7/5 5/1 ¾
Based on this one line alone:
a) the horse is definitely in shape.
b) the horse is probably in shape.
c) the horse is not necessarily in shape.
d) the horse is definitely out of shape
e) you really cannot tell
QUESTION 3. - Horse C - has some early speed.
HORSE C 27.4 57.1 1:25.2 1:55.2........... 5 2 4 5 3/1 ¾ 3/ ½
Based on this one line alone:
a) the horse is definitely in shape.
b) the horse is probably in shape.
c) the horse is not necessarily in shape.
d) the horse is definitely out of shape
e) you really cannot tell
QUESTION 4. - Horse D - has shown some early speed in past.
HORSE D 27.4 57.1 1:25.2 1:55.2 ...........10 1 2 3 2/1 ½ 4/1
Based on this one line alone:
a) the horse is definitely in shape.
b) the horse is probably in shape.
c) the horse is not necessarily in shape.
d) the horse is definitely out of shape
e) you really cannot tell
QUESTION 5. - Horse E - has shown some early speed in past.
HORSE E 27.4 57.1 1:25.2 1:55.2 .............1 4 3p 1 7/4 10/6 ¾
Based on this one line alone:
a) the horse is definitely in shape.
b) the horse is probably in shape.
c) the horse is not necessarily in shape.
d) the horse is definitely out of shape
e) you really cannot tell
QUESTIONS 6-10 ARE BASED ON THE SAME SET OF HYPOTHETICAL FRACTIONS … THE HORSES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED INDEPENTLY AND NOT NECESSARILY AS PARTICIPANTS IN THE SAME RACE:
QUESTION 6 - Horse F - generally races better from off the pace.
HORSE F 28.2 56.1 1:23.1 1:52 ............10 6p 2p 1 1/2 ½ 2/1
Based on this one line alone:
a) the horse is definitely in shape.
b) the horse is probably in shape.
c) the horse is not necessarily in shape.
d) the horse is definitely out of shape
e) you really cannot tell
QUESTION 7 - Horse G is a balanced performer, who can race either way.
HORSE G 28.2 56.1 1:23.1 1:52 .............5 2 5 5 5/4 ½ 3/1 ½
Based on this one line alone:
a) the horse is definitely in shape.
b) the horse is probably in shape.
c) the horse is not necessarily in shape.
d) the horse is definitely out of shape
e) you really cannot tell
QUESTION 8 - Horse H has no defined racing style.
HORSE H 28.2 56.1 1:23.1 1:52 ............. 8 3p 1 3 3/3 4/3
Based on this one line alone:
a) the horse is definitely in shape.
b) the horse is probably in shape.
c) the horse is not necessarily in shape.
d) the horse is definitely out of shape
e) you really cannot tell
QUESTION 9 - Horse I is more of a closer.
HORSE I 28.2 56.1 1:23.1 1:52 ...............7 9 8p 8pp 8/9 ¼ 8/10
Based on this one line alone:
a) the horse is definitely in shape.
b) the horse is probably in shape.
c) the horse is not necessarily in shape.
d) the horse is definitely out of shape
e) you really cannot tell
QUESTION 10 - Horse J generally prefers to be at or near the lead.
HORSE J 28.2 56.1 1:23.1 1:52 ................ 6 1 3 4p 2/2 ½ 1/1
Based on this one line alone:
a) the horse is definitely in shape.
b) the horse is probably in shape.
c) the horse is not necessarily in shape.
d) the horse is definitely out of shape
e) you really cannot tell
QUESTIONS 11-15 ARE BASED ON THE SAME SET OF HYPOTHETICAL FRACTIONS … THE HORSES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED INDEPENTLY AND NOT NECESSARILY AS PARTICIPANTS IN THE SAME RACE:
QUESTION 11: Horse K has shown early speed in the past.
HORSE K 28.1 57.4 1:27 1:54.................4 3 1 1 1 2/hd 6/6 ¼
Based on this one line alone:
a) the horse is definitely in shape.
b) the horse is probably in shape.
c) the horse is not necessarily in shape.
d) the horse is definitely out of shape
e) you really cannot tell
QUESTION 12: Horse L has shown early speed in the past.
HORSE L 28.1 57.4 1:27 1:54.4 ............. 9 3 3 5 5/2 ¾ 1/1 ¼
Based on this one line alone:
a) the horse is definitely in shape.
b) the horse is probably in shape.
c) the horse is not necessarily in shape.
d) the horse is definitely out of shape
e) you really cannot tell
QUESTION 13: Horse M has shown the ability to race either way.
HORSE M 28.1 57.4 1:27 1:54.4 ..........7 6p 4p 2p 1/hd 2/1 ¼
Based on this one line alone:
a) the horse is definitely in shape.
b) the horse is probably in shape.
c) the horse is not necessarily in shape.
d) the horse is definitely out of shape
e) you really cannot tell
QUESTION 14: Horse N has no particular style.
HORSE N 28.1 57.4 1:27 1:54.4 ............. 6 8 6p 4p 4/2 ½ 4/4
Based on this one line alone:
a) the horse is definitely in shape.
b) the horse is probably in shape.
c) the horse is not necessarily in shape.
d) the horse is definitely out of shape
e) you really cannot tell
QUESTION 15: Horse O seems to lack early speed.
HORSE O 28.1 57.4 1:27 1:54.4 ..............1 4 5 7 6/5 ½ 3/ 3 ¼
Based on this one line alone:
a) the horse is definitely in shape.
b) the horse is probably in shape.
c) the horse is not necessarily in shape.
d) the horse is definitely out of shape
e) you really cannot tell