ALLOWANCE

Probably no racetrack term eludes newcomers and novices, even casual racegoers, as does reference to an "allowance" race. Indeed, it's a puzzling term. Literally, "allowance" refers to weight allowances horses may be entitled to (such as three pounds off today's assigned weight for horses that have not won in the past three months), based upon their recent records or age-sex differences.

In handicapping terms, an allowance race is best regarded as a non-claiming event (horses are not for sale) intended either for younger horses not yet ready for stakes competition.

Thus handicappers must deal with two broad categories of allowance races:

Non-winners allowance races
Classified allowance races.

* Many maiden graduates proceed directly to a series of allowance races that are restricted to horses that have had preliminary levels of success. The conditions may specify:

1. For non-winners of a race other than maiden or claiming races.
2. For non-winners twice other than maiden or claiming races.
3. For non-winners three times other than maiden or claiming races.

There are several variations on the theme, but the basic idea is to limit eligibility to horses that have not yet won one, two, or three allowance/stakes races.

As a rule, therefore, handicappers best prefer younger, lightly-raced, improving horses that might be any kind,as opposed to older, highly experienced horses that have looked rather ordinary in ability and are still eligible to compete at these levels.

* Classified allowance races are carded for older horses 3up that have not won one, two, or multiple races offering a specified winner's share (first money) since a specified date, such as for non-winners of $35,000 since March 1.

1. Classified allowances conditions can be complicated and challenging, but in general the more wins and first money allowed and the shorter the specified date in the past, the more good horses will be eligible and the stronger will be the fields.

2. Where no recent wins are allowed, and the first money is ordinary and the specified date six months ago or longer, many good horses and recent non-claiming winners will be barred, and the fields will be weaker. Slightly inferior horses in particuarly sharp form and well-suited to the surface, distance and probable pace may be preferred to better horses returning from long layoffs.