Post Position is a Huge Factor For Maidens in Their First Few Races
One of life's little disappointments for me is to find a promising looking maiden that is starting from an inside post position, especially from the one hole.
It is called the one hole for a reason.
Young horses usually do not like being on the inside, between the rail and all the horses starting to their right.
One trait that horses usually have is claustrophobia.
They don't like tight spots, after all, in the wild, they are the prey and getting cornered takes away the option of running from danger.
So somewhere in their walnut sized brains is a red flag that gets waved anytime they feel hemmed in.
Once they have raced enough and are confident in their jockey and his or her judgment, many horses will overcome this and shoot through tiny gaps and slide through holes on the rail, but that behavior is rarely exhibited by a horse in its first race or two.
I like to see a first time starter in an outside post, preferably the farthest outside post.
It gives them a big boost to break from the outside and to be able to see the entire field to their left.
I have had too many good looking maidens let me down because they were breaking from the inside and couldn't handle it, so now I simply pass them by.
This is important to remember, especially at tracks that favor the inside horses.
We sometimes get into habits in horse racing handicapping that we don't even think about, but do have an impact on our decision making.
I automatically pay more attention to the horses in the inside post positions at some tracks and distances because I know they have an advantage.
I don't even think about it consciously, but subconsciously it makes a difference in my thought processes.
These little habits can make a big difference in your handicapping.
That is one reason that I sometimes write a list of handicapping rules that I follow and things I believe are true.
I read the list and do a reality check to make sure I am not creating situations that really don't exist.
Betting against a promising maiden who is breaking on the rail post is an angle to make money if you have a horse of near equal ability on the outside.
Many Saturday handicappers don't realize that a maiden breaking from an inside post is at a disadvantage and they bet more on the horse because they think it will fare well from the inside.
That is a golden opportunity for smart handicappers.
It is called the one hole for a reason.
Young horses usually do not like being on the inside, between the rail and all the horses starting to their right.
One trait that horses usually have is claustrophobia.
They don't like tight spots, after all, in the wild, they are the prey and getting cornered takes away the option of running from danger.
So somewhere in their walnut sized brains is a red flag that gets waved anytime they feel hemmed in.
Once they have raced enough and are confident in their jockey and his or her judgment, many horses will overcome this and shoot through tiny gaps and slide through holes on the rail, but that behavior is rarely exhibited by a horse in its first race or two.
I like to see a first time starter in an outside post, preferably the farthest outside post.
It gives them a big boost to break from the outside and to be able to see the entire field to their left.
I have had too many good looking maidens let me down because they were breaking from the inside and couldn't handle it, so now I simply pass them by.
This is important to remember, especially at tracks that favor the inside horses.
We sometimes get into habits in horse racing handicapping that we don't even think about, but do have an impact on our decision making.
I automatically pay more attention to the horses in the inside post positions at some tracks and distances because I know they have an advantage.
I don't even think about it consciously, but subconsciously it makes a difference in my thought processes.
These little habits can make a big difference in your handicapping.
That is one reason that I sometimes write a list of handicapping rules that I follow and things I believe are true.
I read the list and do a reality check to make sure I am not creating situations that really don't exist.
Betting against a promising maiden who is breaking on the rail post is an angle to make money if you have a horse of near equal ability on the outside.
Many Saturday handicappers don't realize that a maiden breaking from an inside post is at a disadvantage and they bet more on the horse because they think it will fare well from the inside.
That is a golden opportunity for smart handicappers.
