Most track biases are mild, extending only slightly favorable advantages to horses having certain running styles or exiting certain posts, and the casual handicapper relentless preoccupation with the effects of track surface is usually unwarranted.

But when track biases are severe, they become dominant. Severe biases take precedence over all other handicapping factors. Severe track biases can be recognized when:

The types of biases are four. They interact:

Inside speed biases are easiest for trip handicappers to recognize and to exploit. If the rail post has been winning at unusually high rates, favor speed horses on the inside.

When outside closer biases predominate, handicappers best exploit the circumstances by playing horses having a definite class advantage and an off-pace running style. Class analysts can get excellent prices with this tactic.