FORM

Form refers to the fitness, readiness, and soundness of horses.

Fitness pertains to all contenders
Readiness pertains to Three-year-olds
Soundness pertains to claiming horses

Form standards involve recent races and workouts. Early in the handicapping process form standards should be liberal and flexible. Do not throw out the eventual winners on form, but late in the handicapping process, when evaluating main contenders closely, form standards can be tightened substantially.

Four facets of form analysis

Acceptable form Early
Improving Form Later
Declining Form Later
Peaking Form Later

Workouts are an indicator of form, not class. Workouts can be overrated by handicappers, and frequently are, but gain in importance:

For first starters
Following layoffs
As part of a pattern, positive or negative
Following a claim