CLAIMING RACES

In claiming races, which represent approximately 70% of all races, the horses are for sale at today's claiming prices.
Claiming prices are used to guarantee the quality of the competition will be relatively even.

If claiming horses are entered at too low a price, they might win a purse, but they might also be claimed for an unfair price.
If claiming horses are entered at too high a price, they are unlikely to win enough money to pay their way.
In claiming races, the key handicapping and pace analysis are fundamentally important, and strongly recommended.

Trainers are also important factors in claiming races. Handicappers should learn which trainers are effective with claiming horses in general, 1st race following a claim, rises and drops in claiming races, and with special jockeys.

Rises and drops in claiming prices are routine in racing, and can be troublesome for handicappers, but most of them are surprisingly predictable. (See "Class Evaluations/The Class Hierarchy")

Switches from claiming races to allowance and stake races, and vice-versa, also can be troublesome for handicappers, but they are also reasonable predictable (see "Class Evaluations/The Class Hierarchy")

Excellent figure handicappers probably play the claiming races better than handicappers who do not use speed and/or pace figures.

Restricted claiming races

Restricted claiming races may be limited to horses that have not won:

Two races lifetime

or

Three races lifetime

or

One race this year

or

One race since a specified date this year

Two races this year

or

Two races since a specified date this year

or

A race at a mile or longer this year

In restricted claiming races, handicappers should prefer horses that:

Have run a good race at a higher claiming price in an unrestricted (open) claiming race.

or

Have won an open claiming race at a lower claiming level

In restricted claiming races, horses having good early speed may have a keen edge. Horses that have multiple races recently will be ineligible to race, and many of them will be speed horses. A speed horse that remains eligible may get an early lead and go all the way.