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DRFEXCLUSIVEFEATURES EXPLAINED

BEYERSPEED FIGURES

TOMLINSON RATINGS

TRAINER FORM

IF YOURE NEW TO DRF PPSTHIS IS YOUR LUCKY DAY Page 10

DRF PAST PERFORMANCES EXPLAINED IN DETAIL Page 12

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WINNINGTECHNIQUESWINNINGTECHNIQUES

PAGE 2 DAILY RACING FORM WINNING TECHNIQUES

A race is an engaging spectacle andhorses are magnificent creatures,but without past performancesThoroughbred racing would be a 4-Hattraction at the county fair. It is thewealth of statistical informationabout horses and their handlers thatallows everyone in the business bethey bettors, breeders, owners orjockeys to make the decisions andinvestments that make this thegreatest game ever invented.

For over a century, that information has been assembledby Daily Racing Form, an independent newspaper beholdento no one but its readers. Its sole mission is to present themost comprehensive and accurate news and statistics.

In keeping with the information explosion of the lastdecade, the Form has more than doubled the amount of datait presents on each horse and vastly expanded its news cov-erage and commentary. In 1999, The New Yorker magazinecalled the Form the best newspaper in America. As a newcentury begins, that same newspaper is now availableonline at www.drf.com.

Learning to analyze the past performances in the Form isa very individual process. There are no inherently correctways to handicap, and lifelong devotees say they learn some-thing new every day. This booklets aim is not to pick win-ning horses but to explain the fundamentals so that you canstart picking your own winners and feeling rightfully proudwhen you do. Its fun to win by accident, picking a luckyname or color, but far more gratifying to win by design.

Steven CristChairman & Publisher

Daily Racing Form

Its fun to win byaccident,picking aluckyname orcolor, but far more gratifyingto win bydesign.

Steven Crist is chairman and publisher of Daily RacingForm, which was purchased in 1998 by an investmentgroup headed by Alpine Capital of New York. As he didwith The Racing Times during its one-year existence in1991-1992, Crist has since busied himself in assembling,organizing and directing a staff of handicappers and writ-ers that have supplied racings customers with reportage,opinion, analysis and past-performance enhancements.

Crist is formerly the turf writer for The New York Times,editor-in-chief of The Racing Times, and a NYRA execu-tive, roles that have combined to afford him an aura ofauthority and credibility throughout the industry.

The new business venture has taken Crist away fromthe playing field, where his reputation as a pick-six spe-cialist had grown to enviable proportions. His columns inDaily Racing Form not only reflect the interests of handi-cappers and bettors absolutely, but also contain the ana-lytical thinking that has inevitably characterized Cristswriting.

A graduate of Harvard, where he was a member of theThe Harvard Lampoon, Crist is the author of Betting onMyself, Offtrack, The Horse Traders, and co-author ofChampions and Bet With The Best. Crist lives inHempstead, N.Y

Be prepared...Read The FORM

DAILY RACING FORM WINNING TECHNIQUES PAGE 3

H DRF EXCLUSIVE H

By Dean KepplerIts always easy to Monday morning quarterback when evalu-

ating the result of a race a few minutes after its been declaredofficial or the day after when youre trying to latch onto a legiti-mate excuse as to why your selection ran up the track. While allhandicapping factors have their own degree of importance (withsome obviously more important than others), there can never beenough written about the significance of trainer angles and thehuman element. Trainers are human beings and all humansare creatures of habit. Having said that there are specific pat-terns and categories that identify the strengths and weaknessesof all trainers. As a handicapper, your job is to identify these pos-itive and negative angles, effectively apply them to your handi-capping regimen, and adjust your bets accordingly. When youtake the time to break down and take a closer look at these dif-ferent categories, you can find many profitable angles that train-ers continue to implement meet after meet and year after year.

Before Daily Racing Form started incorporating trainer sta-tistics into the past performances, it was up to the handicapperto keep his or her own trainer records. This tiresome practiceinvolved long hours of daily record keeping, which often left thehandicapper exhausted, blurry-eyed, and reaching for the near-est cocktail after mulling over racing charts for hours! Thoseindividuals who were diligent enough to keep accurate trainerrecords from the specific tracks they frequented, however, notonly had a tremendous advantage over their competitors, butalso cashed a lot more tickets.

Today, the inclusion of trainer statistics in the daily past per-formances saves countless hours of record keeping and arms thehandicapper with a wealth of solid information. Trainer Formis a must-use for any handicapper interested in gaining anadvantage over the rest of the betting public who may not beaware enough to fully understand and implement this powerfulinformation.

How Do We Apply These Angles?For starters, take a look at the Robert Bailes-trained Roanoke

River Rain from the 5th race at Pimlico on Wednesday, May 16.

The betting public was quick to dismiss the chances of this 4-year-old maiden who had been sidelined for 13 months. If youwerent implementing some of the trainer information providedfrom his past performances, it would be hard to argue with thepublics opinion.

Roanoke River Rains debut performance on April 16 in aMaiden Special Weight event at 5 1/2 furlongs was pretty dismal.He finished 7th in a field of 8, was beaten 12 lengths by the racewinner Michaels Pride, and had been ignored at the betting

windows at 34-1. The fact that Roanoke River Rain was returningto the races over a year later immediately generated some con-cerns regarding his physical soundness. Was he injured in thatinitial start? Why did his trainer wait so long to get him backinto action? If he had been racing over his head in his first start,why didnt his trainer drop him into a Maiden Claimer, whichwould have appeared to be a more suitable class level? Althoughits impossible for the handicapper to confidently answer any ofthese questions (the best he or she could do would be to make aneducated guess) observing some of the trainer angles printed inthe past performances could help shed some light on the handi-capping puzzle.

Despite the fact that trainer Robert Bailes was having a rough

2001 campaign (42 2 .05), and was winless at the current meet (100 1 0 .00), a closer look at his individual trainer categories paint-ed an entirely different picture. In spite of Bailess poor overallperformance, the first trainer form category in Roanoke RiverRains past performance indicated that his conditioner did have astrong trainer form angle working in his favor today. Categorynumber 4- (180 Days Since Last Race) clearly indicated Baileswas a master with horses returning from long layoffs. The train-er line (+180 Days (7 .29 $11.60) proved that he won nearly 30 per-cent of his races with horses returning from a long rest, and hadproduced an $11.60 return on a $2 bet for all his loyal backers.

If there was any time Bailes runners were live and ready, itwas after an extended rest. If that wasnt enough to have youthrow a few bucks his way, take an even closer look. If you moveto the far right and look at the last trainer form category print-ed on the page (number 25-Maiden Special Weight), you cansee that Bailes also excels in the type of race he was entered intoday. MdnSpWt (21 .24 $1.71) indicates that Bailes also per-forms fairly well in Maiden Special Weight events. Like his longlayoff percentage, his 24 percent win record in Maiden SpecialWeight races was much better than his overall win percentageof 5 percent for the year.

Value CountsFinding horses that have strong trainer form categories and

are being sent off at long odds is the key to capitalizing fully onthe angle. At odds of 74-1, Roanoke River Rain was a great bet.Valuable trainer form opportunities like this one exist everyday. Remember: just because a trainers overall win percentageis not attractive, doesnt mean that one of his more profitableangles isnt working in his favor today. Furthermore, an evenstronger case could be made regarding Roanoke River Rainschances if you were to look at his strong workouts at Bowie lead-ing up to the race but thats another section!

29 Trainer Form Categories1. First North American Start2. 1st Race After Claim3. 1st Race With Trainer4. 180 Days Since Last Race5. 60-180 Days Since Last Race6. 1-7 Days Since Last Race7. 1st Time Starter8. 2nd Start of Career 9. 1st Time Turf

10. 1st Time Blinkers11. 1st Time Lasix12. 2 Year Olds13. Dirt to Turf14. Turf to Dirt15. Blinkers On

16. Blinkers Off17. Sprint to Route18. Route to Sprint19. 31-60 Days Since Last Race.20. Dirt21. Turf22. Sprints23. Routes24. Maiden Claiming25. Maiden Special Weight26. Claiming27. Allowance28. Stakes29. Graded Stakes

Finding horses that have strong TRAINER FORMcategories and are being sentoff at long odds is the key tocapitalizing fully on the angle.

TRAINER FORM

+ 180 Days (7 .29 $11.60)

Total Number of Starts

Winning percentage

Return on a $2 bet

Trainer Form, below past performances

Past Performance and chart for display purpose only.

PAGE 4 DAILY RACING FORM WINNING TECHNIQUES

Top Beyer Speed FiguresBy Andrew Beyer

Since the Beyer Speed Figures were incorporated in DailyRacing Form past performances in 1992, horseplayers have hada new tool to use in their day-to-day handicapping. But the fig-ures also offer a way to address questions that always spark live-ly debate among racing fans. Who are the best horses of a givenyear? Of a decade? Of all time?

In the period from 1992 to 1999, many fans using traditionalhandicapping measurements would choose Cigar as the out-standing horse; his 16-race winning streak was an extraordinaryachievement. Others might cast their votes for Holy Bull or SkipAway. But from the standpoint of speed figures, the best horsewas one who never won a championship and never got theacclaim he deserved: Formal Gold.

In 1997, he recorded Beyer Speed Figures of 126, 124 and 125 inconsecutive racesthree of the eight highest numbers earnedduring the years from 1992 to 1999. (In all three of these perfor-mances he trounced Skip Away, who ran fast enough to winmany Grade 1 stakes but couldnt get close to Formal Gold.) Andthis remarkable streak wasnt his only distinction; Formal Goldhad won his career debut with a figure of 112the best BeyerSpeed Figure ever earned by a first-time starter.

Cigar, by contrast, never recorded a figure higher than 121,and usually ran in the vicinity of 117. Although he was an excep-tional competitor with many virtues, he managed to go throughhis record winning streak without encountering a rival whostepped up and ran a blockbuster number.

The fastest sprinter in the period 1992-1999 was Artax.Although he was an in-and-outer for much of his career, herecorded figures of 124, 123 and 123 in his championship seasonof 1999three of the six best sprint numbers during the eight-year span.

The most extraordinary speed-figure achievement since westarted publishing our numbers in 1986 belonged to the sprinterGroovy. He started his 1987 campaign with back-to-back victo-ries in six-furlong stakes, in which he earned figures of 133 and132. No horse since then has broken the 130 mark.

115+ Best horses in the country100 Good allowance or low-grade stakes horse90 Typical $25,000 claiming race80 Typical $10,000 claiming race57 Bottom level $2,500 claimers at smaller tracks

We are often asked how horses of recent vintage compare withthe stars of the past, and we wish we could offer a definitiveanswer. Our figures took their present form when we startedcompiling them for an on-line data service in 1986, but in earli-er years they were still in an evolutionary phase. Our figures oftoday arent exactly comparable to our numbers in the decadeof championsthe 1970swhen Secretariat, Seattle Slew,Affirmed and Spectacular Bid competed. I believe these greathorses regularly earned numbers that would have trounced thechampions of the 1990s; when I attempt to improvise a figurefor Secretariats record-shattering victory in the Belmont, I esti-mated that he earned a 139probably the best race ever run.

Andrew Beyer

90 11080

88 10985

By Dean KepplerThe Beyer Speed Figures are a numerical representation of

a horses performance, based on the final time and the inher-ent speed over the track on which the race was run. The high-er the Beyer Speed Figure, the better the performance. BeyerSpeed Figures are interchangeable from track to track andfrom distance to distance. So, a horse who is stepping up inclass but has been posting recent Beyer Speed Figures in the90s may in reality be simply faster than a horse dropping outof seemingly better races, but who has been posting BeyerSpeed Figures in the 80s.

Since the inclusion of the Beyer Speed Figures into theDaily Racing Form in 1992, the betting public has gained eas-ier access to these irreplaceable ratings. Therefore, from aparimutuel standpoint, it can be reasonably assumed thatthese figures have slowly decreased in their effectiveness andvalue over the past 11 years. The truth, however, is just thecontrary. Beyer Speed figures are still one of the most pow-erful handicapping instruments available and still offer bet-ting value when applied appropriately. Modern speed handi-cappers who have managed to incorporate other importanthandicapping variables into their handicapping routine, andhave learned how to effectively interpret Beyer SpeedFigures, still hold a comfortable edge over their rival bettorswho are not as well versed.

Beyer Speed Figures are one of the most practical startingpoints for any bettors handicapping regimen. They are thelogical stepping stone before applying other handicappingconcepts. A horses most recent and next to most recentBeyer Speed Figure is a strong indication of his raw speed,and therefore the ultimate determining factor as to whether

the horse is fast enough to compete with the other entrantshe faces today. In most races, where horses have already had5 or 6 races under their belt and are unlikely to undergo anyfurther dramatic improvement, 20 to 25 percent of the fieldcan be eliminated on Beyer Speed Figures alone. If a horseregularly earns figures in the 50s, and is meeting a handfulof runners who always run in the 70s, its safe to say he has

little chance. Under most circumstances, these types of hors-es become automatic throw outs. They are simply too slow tocompete. On the flip side of the coin, a horse that earned apoor Beyer in its last race, but has earned competitive Beyersin his other previous races, could of had a legitimate excusefor turning in such a poor effort.

This leads us to our next step, which is to determine howeach horse, whether its those that have earned more com-

petitive numbers or those that have had disappointingefforts, achieved their figures. Were these figures earnedunder the same distance and track surface the horse facestoday? Did a muddy or sloppy surface affect a horses last per-formance? Is a horse more likely to return back to its morecompetitive figures on a fast track? Was the pace scenario ofthe last race favorable or unfavorable to a horses runningstyle, which may have inflated or deflated his figure? Doesthe horses trainer have a positive training angle working inhis favor today? Or, finally, did a horse suffer a poor perfor-mance as a result of a rough trip or unfavorable track bias?Basically, its the handicappers goal to decipher whethertheres a good reason to ignore or accept a horses mostrecent Beyer figure or figures. If a legitimate excuse could bemade for a recent poor figure, and that particular horse isgoing off at generous odds today, there may be an optimumbetting opportunity available.

Beyer Speed Figures are a valuable tool for all handicap-pers. Unfortunately, evaluating and applying Beyer SpeedFigures are not as straightforward as the mechanics used informulating the numbers themselves. The key to utilizingthem effectively is finding circumstances where they offerthe most value. In most cases, it requires that you go a lot fur-ther than looking to see which horse or horses earned thehighest Beyer Figure in their last race. Their real value liesin finding a horse that has had a legitimate excuse for run-ning an inferior figure in its last or next to last recent effort.You may find that based on some of his efforts three or fourraces back, that this same horse can more than competetoday with a return to its best Beyer Speed Figure.

BEYER SPEED FIGURES H DRF EXCLUSIVE H

Beyer Speed Figures are one of the most

practical starting points for any bettors

handicapping regimen.

BEYER SCALE

BEYER FIG.

139!BEYER FIG.

139!

Illustration for display purpose only.

DAILY RACING FORM WINNING TECHNIQUES PAGE 5

Andrew Beyer has remainedthe most important personali-ty in Thoroughbred handicap-ping for two decades. HisPicking Winners, published in1975, altered the practice ofspeed handicapping and thecomposition of speed-figurecharts for all times.

The numbers have evolvedas staple items in Daily Racing Forms past perfor-mances as Beyer Speed Figures, thereby assuringBeyer a cultural niche in the sports history.

Author, columnist and relentless bettor, Beyerassures anyone who asks that his enthusiasm for thegreat game of handicapping has never dulled. HisWashington Post columns, which also appear inDaily Racing Form, not only reflect that enthusiasm,but also consistently treat the seasons topics andissues with a handicappers shine.

Beyers routine still includes the daily cards atGulfstream Park in Florida during winter, and otherracetracks anytime from the den of his home. Helives with his wife, Susan, in Washington, D.C.

How will my horse run today?Practical Applications of Beyer Speed Figures

By Dean KepplerIf handicapping horses using Beyer Speed Figures were a

perfect science, it would be relatively simple to scan the pastperformances and find the fastest runners in each and everyrace. Picking winners and cashing tickets would be as simpleas finding horses that earned superior Beyer Speed Figuresin their last or next to last start, and then merely dashing tothe betting windows with your latest mortgage payment toreap the rewards. In this perfect world there would be 1-10shots in every race, and the betting public would make moneyfaster than following Martha Stewarts insider stock tips.

Unfortunately, factors such as track bias, troubled trips,trainer conditioning, post position, medication, pace of therace, trainer intent and track condition make the routinepractice of betting horses with the highest Beyer SpeedFigures both a risky and expensive proposition. Its true thatfinding horses that have earned the best Beyers in their mostrecent starts are an excellent starting point in uncoveringquality entrants with raw speed. However, to foolishly com-plete your handicapping analysis using only this one, anglewould be a very costly mistake. Its amazing, however, howmany novice bettors continue to fall into this common bet-ting trap and continue to shred tickets.

Unquestionably, evaluating Beyer Speed Figures should bethe utmost priority before starting your daily handicappingregimen. Its the only logical place to begin. Beyer SpeedFigures are arguably the most powerful handicapping angleever created. Its essential, however, that you ask yourselfsome critical questions before narrowing down and bettingon only Beyer figure standouts. For example: Was an unusu-ally high figure earned on the front-end on a speed-favoringsurface? Did a horse earn a top figure in the mud or slop? Didhe earn his figure because a trainer traditionally does excep-tionally well with horses first-off-the-claim or some otherfavorable trainer-form angle? Did the horse earn its big speedfigure because he got a perfect stalking trip behind twospeedballs that ultimately ran each other into the ground?And, finally, was the speed figure earned on the turf or dirtand todays surface is different than that particular race? Ifyou can find a legitimate reason to find fault with a horsesrecent top Beyer figure, you have a strong case for tossingwhat is likely to become a false betting favorite. In doing sothis will open the door to many other logical contenders,which are inclined to be ignored by the masses and thus offergood betting value.

Reverse Beyer psychologyCreating a comprehensive list of reasons as to why a

horses last or next-to-last superior Beyer Speed Figure isnta true indication of its actual ability is relatively simple. Atthe same time, however, its much more advantageous andprofitable in the long run to look for horses that earned sub-par figures but may have had a legitimate excuse for doingso. These types of runners are more likely to run better todayif conditions are more favorable. The betting public will com-monly overlook these types of runners, and solid value willbe attainable in both the win and exotic pools. The populari-ty of using Beyer Speed Figures have become so widespreadthat horses that have earned the biggest and most recentnumbers are commonly overbet.

So, whats the handicapper to do? Simply look for horseswith sub-par figures that may have had a legitimate excusefor running poorly. These types of horses are hidden in thepast performances each and every day and offer the overlaysyou should be shopping for. A little detective work goes along way in deciphering Beyer Speed Figures. Did the horsehave an unusually wide trip which may have affected itsfinal running time and position? Did he run on an off trackand not take well to the muddy or sloppy surface? Was thehorse compromised by an outside or inside post position?Does a trainer do poorly with layoff horses and performmuch better when his stock has one or two races under theirbelt? These are the types of questions that you have to askyourself before becoming hypnotized by that magical Beyernumber.

For a better example, lets look at Distant Dibo, who ranrecently in a $20,000 claiming event at Saratoga. He earned adismal 39 Beyer Speed Figure (the worst of his career) over

the same Saratoga surface on July 24 of this same year at thesame class level. Was his performance as bad as it looks?Maybe its not. If you look closely at this 6-furlong sprint itwas contested over a muddy racetrack. Its logical to presumebased on Dibos dismal 18-length defeat that he doesnt carefor a muddy surface. If todays racing surface comes up fast,this horse has every logical reason to run back to his 69 figure,which he earned in two starts prior on April 19 and July 14.

In the next example we take a glance at Blushing Judith,who was entered in a $8,000 claiming sprint at DelawarePark. At first glimpse, Judiths last two speed figures (61, 60),which were earned out of town at Penn National racecourse,look somewhat respectable when compared to the rest of thefield. These two Beyer numbers are two of the highest figuresever earned by this 3-year-old colt in all of his 12 lifetimestarts. A closer look, however, paints a much different pic-ture about this colts current main-track ability. These twofigures were acquired on a firm turf course at 5 furlongs, andtodays event is scheduled for the dirt. If you look back to thiscolts last start (June 4) on this oval and on the main track,you can easily see that he was beaten 20 3/4 lengths at todaysexact distance and class level. Thats not very encouraging.He earned a pitiful 29 Beyer Speed Figure that day. In fact, allof his starts on the main track in 2003 have been awful, andhes yet to regain his sharper main-track form displayed lastyear in Florida. You could argue that his trainer, HarryThompson, has a positive turf-to-dirt trainer percentage(25%), but all indications are that Blushing Judith may be bet-ter suited to the turf than dirt. He is certainly a risky propo-sition at low odds based on his poor Beyer Speed Figures onthe main track.

Successful Beyer Speed Figure bettors are those whoremain flexible when evaluating current numbers and areable to adjust to changing track conditions, trainer place-ment or intent, post position, workout tabs, pace and theaddition of medication (Lasix). Beyer Speed Figures are atremendous and reliable gauge of a horses true ability.Theyre not, however, a neat, mechanical numerical systemfor pointing out magical winners, which many people inter-pret them to be. I dont believe such a numerical systemexists. You must be aware of the many factors that contributeto a horse running differently today, and learn to capitalizeon when the betting public is overlooking some of the obvi-ous contenders.

Good luck!

Its essential, however,that you ask yourself

some critical questionsbefore narrowing down

and betting on only Beyer figure standouts.

To learn more about Beyer Speed FiguresCheck out Joe Cardellos Speed to Spare Call 1-800-306-FORM $14.95 + S & H

Past Performances for display purpose only.

PAGE 6 DAILY RACING FORM WINNING TECHNIQUES

If properly utilized these ratingswill prove to be extremely usefulespecially in the following races

a) Most maiden races. b) Most 2-year-old races. c) Races switched to a main track listed as

sloppy or muddy.d) With horses trying mud, slop, or turf for the

first, second or third time.

MUDDERS Mud Rating of 320 +Merits further consideration as ahorse who could runparticularly well overa wet track.

By Lee TomlinsonEvery horse whose sire and maternal grandsire have had

a meaningful sample of offspring is assigned two TomlinsonRatings one that assesses the horses likely aptitude forgrass and one that does the same thing for muddy or sloppytracks. These ratings, which have been updated historicallytwice a year and will now be updated quarterly, are derivedfrom an analysis of tens of thousands of race results on turfcourses or wet tracks. The ratings, which appear next to theTurf and Wet headings in each horses career box, canrange from 0 (totally unsuccessful) to 480 (spectacularly suc-cessful.) A dash () means that the horses sire has had aninsufficient number of runners to create a rating.

Runners whose sire and/or damsire have relatively smallsamples (fewer than 80 runners), are listed with an asterisk(*) following the rating. Experience has led me to believethat small samples must be looked upon with a cautious eye.In fact, I would be inclined to favor a solid rating of, letssay, 380 over a rating of 400* which has an asterisk attached.

Once a runner has raced more than 3 times on the samesurface he faces today, he has most likely given you an indi-cation of whether he likes it or not.

The key in any particular race is not so much who has thehighest rating overall, but rather the difference, or margin,that separates the contenders, providing the runner withthe highest rating merits further consideration.

I am frequently asked what margin do I consider to be

substantial. Generally speaking my confidence level goes upa notch when the margin in question is 40 points or more onmud/slop, and 30 points or more on turf. There are timeswhen three or four first-time starters have ratings whichare perhaps 20 points apart (lets say 300, 310, 315, 320).Because of other considerations (trainer, workouts, etc.) Imight very well not favor the one with the highest rating.Remember that this is a handicapping tool, not gospel.

Look as these ratings as you would a baseball players bat-

ting average. The higher the average the greater the proba-bility of getting a hit. However, he wont get a hit every timeup. In fact, ballplayers with a low batting average will fre-quently outhit the higher average player in a given gamebut not over the course of the season.

Dont overlook these less-obvious uses for Mudders &Turfers:

1) An import from Europe is making his first start onDIRT after compiling a good, but not great, record onthe grass. If upon closer look, the horses turf rating isaverage at best, this runner might just be better suitedfor dirt racing than turf racing.

2) A young horse is making his second lifetime start. Inhis debut he was fairly well bet but did not run partic-ularly well. However, that race was run on a sloppy ormuddy track and the Tomlinson mud/slop rating wasnot that good. If todays race, however is on a fast track,you should definitely give him the benefit of the doubtand another chance to prove his ability.

3) On the other side of the coin, if a young horse is comingoff a great effort on an off track, and todays race is ona fast track, you might just want to check hismud/slop rating. If, indeed, that rating is a high one,you might want to deduct some points from the last per-formance, especially if he was not well backed on thetote board.

Once a runner has raced more than 3 times on the

same surface he faces today,he has most likely given you an indication of whether he

likes it or not.

Tomlinson Ratings, in career box

Lee Tomlinson has had a tremen-dous impact on the practice of hand-icapping with the publication of hissire ratings for mud, turf and dis-tance. Originally marketed asMudders and Turfers, and nowcommingled with the distance factoras Tomlinsons ComprehensivePedigree Guide, the ratings haveproved remarkably reliable, notably

for first and second starters on the grass. Tomlinsons turfratings, in fact, may represent the modern players greatestsource of conspicuous overlays.

The Tomlinson ratings currently cover as many as 11,000sires. Regarding distance, the object is to indicate whetheryoung Thoroughbreds should be better suited to runningshort, intermediate or longer distances, important datawhen horses stretch out from sprints to routes.

Following many successful years in investment banking,Tomlinson vacated a Wall Street vice-presidency in 1995 todevote his time to family, friends and Thoroughbred rac-ing. Introduced to the sport by his father at 14, Tomlinsonowned a racehorse in partnership with three others in 1979,beginning a long friendship with New York trainer BobDunham. Tomlinson is presently a part owner of two hors-es with Dunham on the New York Racing Association cir-cuit. Tomlinson and his wife, Jackie, have two daughters.

TOMLINSON RATINGS H DRF EXCLUSIVE H

Daily Racing Form has added the Tomlinson Distance Ratings to the career box above each horses past performances. Theseratings, based on a statistical analysis of the performance of other Thoroughbreds with the same pedigree influences, may provehelpful in predicting a Thoroughbreds ability to handle the distance of todays race.

The new ratings, that appears in parentheses after the abbreviation Dist in the career box, are similar to the Tomlinson wet-track and turf ratings which already appear in the box. Ratings range from 0 to 480, with a rating of around 320 considered aver-age. A rating followed by an asterisk means the rating is based on a small data sample, usually because a sire or dam sire hashad a limited number of runners.

Unlike the other Tomlinson ratings, the Distance Ratings are keyed to the distance of the race in which the horse is entered intoday. Races fall into one of four categories: six furlongs or shorter; over six furlongs but less than a mile; a mile or over but lessthan a mile and a quarter; and a mile and a quarter and over. Each horse has a rating, revised quarterly, in each category andthe one that appears today is determined by the distance of todays race.

These ratings might prove especially useful when handicapping younger horses with a limited number of starts at the distancein question.

Here are two examples of question mark situations where the ratings should provide considerable help.l A field of eight maiden two year olds going five furlongs (5f), most making their racing debut. Which ones are bred for speed?

Perhaps one has a pedigree that shouts, Im a speedball and sprinting is my game! The distance ratings will help you deter-mine each runners probability of success.

l You are looking at a field of three-year-olds scheduled to go a mile and a quarter...perhaps the Kentucky Derby or the TraversStakes. While several entrants have gone a mile and an eighth, none has ever crossed that imaginary barrier and raced at alonger distance. A look at the ratings might give you a clue as to which of todays contestants has the pedigree to get the mileand a quarter distance.

TURFERS Turf Rating of 280 +Merits further consideration as a horse who could run particularly well over the grass.

TOMLINSON DISTANCE RATINGS

DAILY RACING FORM WINNING TECHNIQUES PAGE 7

Lets look at a race using Tomlinson RatingsHeres just one example where the Tomlinson

Mud/Slop Ratings might have proven useful. Lets takea look at Hawthorne Race Course, Race 1 on MondayApril 7. The race was a bottom-level $10K maidenclaiming event for fillies and mares, three-year-oldsand upward. This weak field was very characteristic ofthe type of race you might find at any mid-level racingoval on your typical weekday. The track was labeled"MUDDY" as April showers had moved in and damp-ened the Chicago area. The short field of six entrantswere all going to the post in this 1 1/16 mile route race.Of the field of six, there werent any horses that hadrun on a muddy surface before, and only Ms Tish andTia Marquetry had run on a sloppy track. The highestTomlinsonMud/Slop rating of 301 belonged to Ogee,who had never run on an off track in all of her 5 life-time starts. Although Ogees 301 was below theTomlinson rating of 320, which is usually the mini-mum for consideration to run particularly well over awet track, she still had the highest figure in the field.

Furthermore, tossing Tomlinson Mud/Slop ratingsaside for just a second, Ogee was being dropped from a$25K maiden-claiming level today and was being sentout by some hot connections. Thomas Tomillo wasranked second in the trainer standings at the currentHawthorne meet, and jockey Curt Bourque was win-ning at a 20 percent clip. Tia Marquetry, who had thesecond highest Mud/Slop rating of 295, had run twiceon the sloppy track back in October and December oflast year. Tia had showed mixed signals on the offgoing running a close third over the sloppy surface inOctober, and then ran a badly beaten fifth inDecember. Ms Tish, who had the third highestTomlinsonMud/Slop rating of 284, had one race on thewet track on December 18 of last year when she ran inthe same race as Tia. On that day she ran a good sec-ond at 11-1 to run-away winner Tricked Into Love. Thefirst race at Hawthorne had become a textbook exam-ple of the proper use of Tomlinson Mud/Slop ratings.(Please see chart below). As if by design, the field fin-ished in perfect sequence to their respective mud num-bers. As indicated elsewhere on these pages, theTomlinson Mud/Slop ratings often prove helpful whenthe runners in question have little or no real "off" trackexperience. However, by no means is this example try-ing to prove that Tomlinson Mud/Slop ratings are aperfect numerical science. They are not. When com-bined with other potent handicapping factors, such asjockey, trainer, trainer form, Beyer Speed Figures andrunning style, Tomlinsons do give the player thatextra boost in deciphering which horses mightimprove and run well on less than perfect track condi-tions.

Past Performances for display purpose only

When combined with other potent handicapping factors,

such as jockey, trainer, trainer form, Beyer Speed Figures and

running style, Tomlinson Rating do give the player

that extra boost when deciphering which horses might

improve and run well during less than perfect track conditions.

PAGE 8 DAILY RACING FORM WINNING TECHNIQUES

Angle Number 1 Fresh off the BenchSome horses run well after an extended period of rest, and

some trainers excel with this move, too, getting a horse ready torun one big effort after resting for an extended period of time. Ifa horse is running off of an extended rest (also known as a lay-off, this is indicated in the DRF PPs by a thin line after hisprior race or two thin lines if hes been resting for more than ayear), this angle should be considered. Two ways to look for thisangle: Take a look back at a horses previous efforts running offof a layoff. Did he win or run better than he did in races whenhe had less rest? If so, then consider betting on him today. Takea look at the trainer angle section at the bottom of the PP. Doesthis trainer excel (a win percentage of 15 percent or more) withhorses running off of layoffs? If thats the case, you may want toplay this horse today.

Angle Number 2 Beyer BewareBeyer Speed Figures are the gold standard in the industry.

They are arguably the most reliable speed figures out there. Tolearn more about how to use them, see pages 4-5. But heres onequick tip. If a horse ever has a Triple Beyer Advantage, it makesgood sense to take that horse seriously. A Triple BeyerAdvantage is when a horses last three Beyer Speed Figures arebetter than the last three Beyer Speed figures of anyone else inthe race. This numerical superiority wont usually lead you totoo many longshots, but its a reliable indicator of horses whoshould tower over their competition. Although Beyer figuresare a highly accurate measure of how fast a horse ran in paststarts, it is important to remember that because of race condi-tions, level of competition and a variety of other factors, theyrenot a guarantee of how fast that horse will run today. However,one of the surest angles with Beyer Figures is using them toeliminate horses that are simply too slow to win. In a race withestablished form, if the contenders all regularly earn Beyers inthe 70s, a horse who has never cracked 40 can be safely elimi-nated because he is simply too slow to win. Often, in such raceswith well-established form, you will be able to eliminate muchof the field, boiling the race down to the few true contenders.

Angle Number 3 Tender Loving CareIts only logical that horses will show improvement on the

racetrack when moved to a new trainer who conditions his orher horses in different and sometimes more effective ways thanthe trainer who previously conditioned the horse. Daily RacingForm offers two good ways to clue you in to this angle:

In claiming races, compare the winning percentage of the cur-rent trainer to the previous one. When a horse is claimed, DRFpast performances will show you the winning percentages forthe year for the last trainer and the new one. If the new traineris having a considerably better year than the previous one (letssay the new trainer has 16 percent wins and the old one onlyhad 5 percent wins), then you can upgrade the horses chanceswith the new trainer.

The trainer stats at the bottom of each past performance giveyou crucial data about whether a new trainer succeeds withhorses moving into his or her barn. The stat 1st Claim tellsyou the winning percentage the first time the new trainer runsa horse after claiming him, for this year and all of last year. And1st W/Trn is a stat that tells you the winning percentage thefirst time the new trainer gets a new horse in his or her barn,for this year and all of last year. Any time you see a trainer inthe 15 or 20 percent range with either of these stats, he or she isworth taking seriously.

Angle Number 4 His Father was a Mudder and his Mother was a Mudder!

The Daily Racing Form past performances contain a specialset of ratings, the Tomlinson Mudder & Turfer Ratings. Theseratings are based on a horses breeding. One rating assesses ahorses likely aptitude for running on grass, while the otherdoes the same thing for muddy or sloppy tracks (see pages 6-7for more details about the Tomlinson ratings). So, lets sayyoure at the races and its raining or it recently rained and thetrack is muddy or sloppy. Its time to employ the TomlinsonNumbers! If you see a horse who has never run on the mud andshows a Tomlinson Rating of 320 or higher, this horse could bethe type who LOVES THE SLOP. This horse could be the type torelish the conditions, and run big at long odds. So if its raining,consult the Tomlinson mud figures.

Angle Number 5 The Horse for the CourseSome horses just love certain racetracks and arent nearly as

successful elsewhere. A great example is Lemon Drop Kid, whowon the Futurity at Belmont as a 2-year-old but never threat-ened in subsequent stakes races in Kentucky. When he returnedhome to Belmont he ran a huge race and won the BelmontStakes at 29-1! Lemon Drop Kid was a horse for the course. Heloved Belmont Park. Daily Racing Form provides crucial data inthe career box, (which is located in the upper right hand cornerof the past performances), to help you find horses for the course.In each career box, DRF includes the horses record at the trackand surface he is running on today. If you see a horse whoshows a particularly strong record at todays track, take notebecause he may be a horse for the course.

Angle Number 6 The Surface SwitchSome horses excel going from turf to dirt, or vice versa. Why?

Turf is sometimes a less jarring surface than dirt. Therefore, ifa horse has been racing on turf while his competition has beenslaving away on dirt, the turf horse who is back on the dirtmight have an advantage. And some horses excel going fromdirt to turf because they prefer the more forgiving nature of thegrass. Daily Racing Form past performances offer a couple ofgreat ways to play this angle: Look at the Tomlinson Turf rat-ings to see if a horse is well bred for the turf. If he has aTomlinson rating of 280 or higher, and if hes never or rarelyrun on the turf before and is trying it today, consider betting onhim. (note: to learn more about the Tomlinson ratings see page6-7) The trainer stats below the past performances tell you ifeach trainer excels with the Dirt/Turf (that dirt to turf) orTurf/Dirt move. If a trainer wins 15 percent or better withsuch a move, its a good bet that his horse is well meant intodays spot.

Angle Number 7 Bullets BlazingDaily Racing Form displays up to six workouts underneath

the past performance lines for any horse, and up to 12 workoutsfor a 1st-time starter. Those workout numbers compare thehorses morning training activities to other horses that aretraining at that track and distance. If the horse works fasterthan any other horse in the morning, and at least 4 horsesworked at that distance, it gets a black bullet next to the work-out to let you know that this was an especially fast workout.

Take note if a horse earned a bullet workout when he showedno previous history of fast workouts. The increased speed in themorning could translate to an increased turn of foot at theraces.

Here are 10 simple (but sly) angles that should lead to immediate results at the betting windows.

Instead of spending years and years trying to develop your own sweet little angles that will resultin you becoming a winning player, were going to give you a head start right now! There aredozens of angles to look for in Daily Racing Form PPs, but here are 10 simple (but sly) ones thatshould lead to immediate results at the betting windows. So start with these 10, utilize them todaywhere they make sense, and have fun developing your own set of angles that work for you.

10 SIMPLE ANGLES1

2

3

4

5

6

7

DAILY RACING FORM WINNING TECHNIQUES PAGE 9

Angle Number 8 Just What the Doctor OrderedWhenever a horse adds the medication known as Lasix

(furosemide) for the first time, the Daily Racing Form high-lights this information with the white L in a black circle in thepast performances. This information is highlighted becausetreatment with Lasix sometimes leads to a dramaticallyimproved performance from a horse. The medication is pre-scribed when a horse has bled. Bleeding is a result of the rup-turing of tiny blood vessels in the lungs, which is usually causedfrom overexertion in a horses previous race. Below are fourhints you can use when it comes to Lasix:

If youre looking for the big improvement with a horse run-ning on Lasix for the first time, its best if you see a solid work-out since his last race. This indicates the horse may be trainingwell on Lasix and should be ready to pop first time out on thismedication.

Sometimes horses will show big improvement on Lasix whenrunning on the medication for the second time. If the horse did-nt show big improvement first time on the medication, second-time Lasix can be an interesting angle, too!

Always look at the DRF Trainer Stats at the bottom of eachpast performance to see if a trainer has a positive history withhorses running First-Time Lasix. If theyve won 15 to 20 percentor more with their horses adding Lasix for the first time, this isa very positive sign that the horses performance shouldimprove with the addition of Lasix.

Horses adding Lasix for the first time who are 2- 3- or 4-years-olds, or are that age and coming over from Europe for the firsttime, are more likely to pop first time on Lasix than olderhorses.

Angle Number 9 The Well-Meant BabyBetting 2-year-olds who have never raced before can be an

inscrutable mystery, with little more to go on than workouts.But now, Daily Racing Form provides sales information on anyhorse that was sold at public auction. You can easily identify ifany of these babies were particularly well regarded in the salesring. If you see a horse that sold for $150,000 when all of the otherhorses sold for chump change, theres a good chance hes a well-meant baby - a horse whose owners are looking to get immedi-ate returns on their big investment. To find the sales data, justlook at the top of each horses past performance. If they weresold at public auction, it will list an abbreviation of the sale theywere sold at in the middle at the top of each past performance.For example, KEESEP98 represents the Keeneland sale inSeptember 1998, followed by the price the horse was sold for.

Angle Number 10 The Distance SpecialistSome horses just love certain distances. Others have the abil-

ity to handle tricky distances that many horses struggle with.For example, when you see a horse running a marathon dis-tance of 1 1/2 miles, you should understand that 1 1/2 miles is adistance that many horses just cant handle. Fortunately, DailyRacing Form provides this crucial distance data in the careerzbox, which is also located in the upper right hand corner of thepast performances. This data helps you find horses that havepreviously excelled at tricky distances such as 1 1/2 miles. Ineach career box, DRF includes the horses record at todays racedistance. If you see a horse who shows a particularly strongrecord at the distance on that surface, take note - he may be adistance specialist.

Betting terms - what they meanWin - You are a winner if your horse is the winner of the race.Place - If your horse finishes first or second, you are a winner.Show - If your horse finishes first, second, or third you are a winner.Across the Board - If you want to bet one horse to win, place, and show, you may

simplify the bet by telling the mutuel clerk that you wish to wager, for example, $2across the board on No. 4. Thats the same as asking for a $2 win, $2 place, and $2show on No. 4.

Daily Double - A wager calling for the selection of the winning horses in two des-ignated races. Most racetracks offer a daily double on the first and second races. Ifyou bet a 2-6 daily double, No. 2 must win the first race and No. 6 must win the sec-ond.

Exacta (or Perfecta) - A wager calling for a selection of the first and second horsesin a race, in their exact order of finish. If you bet a 3-4 exacta, No. 3 must win andNo. 4 must finish second.

Top Wheel - In exacta wagering, a bet that hooks up a horse the player thinks hasthe best chance to win a race with every other horse in the race. Lets say youthink the No. 5 horse will win, and you want to be assured of having him on top inyour exacta. You would then wheel the No. 5 with every other horse in the race,at a cost per wager of $2. If there are five other horses in the race, wheeling yourselection with all five will cost $10.Bottom Wheel - In exacta wagering, a bet that combines a horse the player thinkshas the best chance to finish second with every other horse in the race.Trifecta (or Triple) - You must select the first, second, and third horses in a race, in

their exact order of finish. Pick Three - You win by selecting the winners of three designated races. You can

select more than one horse in each race, but the cost of your wager will increase pro-portionally. Also called the daily triple.

Pick Six - Not an easy task to select the winners of six consecutive races, but thepayoff is usually very large depending on the number of bettors who can correctlyselect this winning combination.

Coupled - When two or more horses in a race belong to the same owner(s), they aresaid to be coupled and they run as one entry, comprising a single betting unit. (Inother words, a bet on one horse of an entry is a bet on both.) Regardless of post posi-tion, their program numbers would be 1 and 1A, with the horse drawing the postposition nearest the rail running as 1 and the outside horse of the two running as1A. They will actually break from the post positions they draw at the time of entry.Even though they are listed as 1 and 1A in the program, they may line up, for exam-ple, in stalls 3 and 9 in the starting gate.

Even Money - Odds of 1-1 on a horse where profit equals investment in a successfulwager.

Odds - When a horse is 3-1 to win, it means that you will receive $6 back for every$2 wager, plus your initial wager. Thus a $2 bet at 3-1 pays $3 x 2 + $2 (your originalwager) for a total of $8.

Odds-On - Sometimes, horses are bet so heavily that they return less than $2 profitfor each $2 wagered. These are odds-on choices. For example, a horse that goes offat odds of 1-2 pays $1 for each $2 bet, plus your wager. Thus a $2 bet at 1-2 returns $1+ $2 for a total of $3. A winner at a payoff of under $4 is odds-on.

Overlay - A horse whose odds in the actual wagering are greater than you thinkthey ought to be; in other words, a horse you think is being overlooked by the pub-lic. The opposite is an underlay.

Odds $2 Bet returns

1-10 $2.201-5 $2.402-5 $2.801-2 $3.003-5 $3.204-5 $3.601-1 $4.006-5 $4.407-5 $4.803-2 $5.008-5 $5.202-1 $6.005-2 $7.003-1 $8.007-2 $9.004-1 $10.009-2 $11.005-1 $12.006-1 $14.007-1 $16.008-1 $18.009-1 $20.0010-1 $22.0012-1 $26.0015-1 $32.0020-1 $42.00

HOW MUCH DO I WIN?

8

9

10

Betting exotics on a limited budgetExacta

Trifecta

Pick 3 Strategies

Pick 6 Strategies

Race 3 Race 4 Race 5

YOUR TOP SELECTIONS 7 5 3but you also like 9-6 1-3 4-2

Race 3 Race 4 Race 5 Race 6 Race 7 Race 8

YOUR TOP SELECTIONS 6 4 3 1 7 8but you also like 4-2-6 5-6 1-3-5

Race 3 Race 4 Race 5 Cost

TICKET 1 7 / 5 / 3 $2.00TICKET 2 7 / 1,3,5 / 2,3,4 $18.00TICKET 3 6,7,9 / 5 / 2,3,4 $18.00TICKET 4 6,7,9 / 1,3,5 / 3 $18.00

} Coveringother horses ineach race

So if 7,5,3 win (your top selections) you win on all four tickets instead of 1

1 1 4 1 3 4 $96XRace 3 Race 4 Race 5 Race 6 Race 7 Race 8

Total

(48 combinations)

X X X X $2X

1 1 4 2 3 4 $192XRace 3 Race 4 Race 5 Race 6 Race 7 Race 8 (96 combinations)

X X X X $2X

Actual layouts will depend on howmany potential singles there areamong the top-rated contendersand how many logical back-up pos-sibilities there are in each race,including the races with potentialsingles. At the bottom line all deci-sions must be funneled through thelimitations of the players bankroll

Example with 3 singles

Example with 2 singles (you like 2 horses in the 6th race instead of 1)

Figure your ticket out before you go to the window

Wager Amount Type Bet Explanation Cost$2.00 STRAIGHT 6-3 #6 must finish first and #3 second $2.00

Wager Amount Type Bet Explanation Cost$2.00 BOX 6-3 #6 and #3 can finish 6-3 or 3-6 $4.00

Wager Amount Type Bet Explanation Cost$2.00 Partial Wheel 6 (1,2, 3) #6 must win and either $6.00

1,2, or 3 must finish second

Wager Amount Type Bet Explanation Cost$2.00 STRAIGHT 1-2-3 #1 must win, #2 must place $2.00

#3 must show

Wager Amount Type Bet Explanation Cost$2.00 BOX 1-2-3 #1,2,or 3 can finish in any order $12.00

Wager Amount Type Bet Explanation Cost$2.00 Partial Wheel 6 (1,2, 3) #6 must win and 1,2 or 3 $12.00

can finish in any order forplace or show

PAGE 10 DAILY RACING FORM WINNING TECHNIQUES

DAILY RACING FORM WINNING TECHNIQUES PAGE 11

DRF Online Past Performances-- How do they work?Daily Racing Forms website, DRF.com, offers the online version of DRF past performances.

These online PPs are available at least two nights before the races are runif youre playing theraces on Saturday, you can download the PPs on Thursday night to get a head start on the com-petition!

How do I access DRF Past Performances? There's two ways toaccess these PPs, the PDF format and the Formulator format.

Which makes more sense for me?DRF Online Past Performances come in two formats, Formulator or PDF, which are priced

exactly the same. The Formulator format allows you to see and print the past performances justas you see them in the Form, with all of the same features, but Formulator also gives you thepower to customize the past performances with several easy-to-use timesaving functions. Thesespecial functions will give you the player an edge over other handicappers. Also, for you techies,Formulator is a comma-delimited file, meaning you can export the data into your own handicap-ping software! PDF is a "read-only" format that duplicates the past performances just as you seethem in the pages of the Daily Racing Form.

PDF sounds easy enough, but tell me more about Formulator. Is it really worth

downloading this software?Well, first of all, the software is FREE, which is tough to beat, right? Secondly, the download

only takes a few minutes. And once you get the hang of it, youll be blown away at some of the veryquick and easy features it offers. Every handicapper has a unique way of analyzing Daily RacingForm. With Formulators flexibility, you have the power to take past performances and formatthem to your personal style. You can manipulate the page to highlight the angles you like best,which brings your most valued handicapping principles right to the front. The versatility ofFormulator allows you to combine its various filters and features however you like, customizingyour own past performance profiles. And Formulator can be conveniently personalized to serveyour individual needs, automatically displaying the features you want to use. The possibilities arelimited only by your imagination.

Sounds good, tell me more about some of the features.

One of the great new features in Formulator is FormNotes. FormNotes is an easy-to-use featurethat allows you to quickly and permanently make notations about a horse that will show up in theFormulator PPs every time the horse runs.

n Notice a bad trip for a horse and want to make a note of it? Put it in Formulator FormNotes! n Notice a track bias and want to make a note of it? Put it in Formulator FormNotes! Another cool feature is lifetime past performances for every horse. Are you looking for horses

with back class? Maybe youd just like to see where it all began for your favorite Thoroughbred?Only with Formulator can you access the Lifetime Past Performances for each horse every racingday at no additional cost. Moreover, you can perform the same modifications on those older racesas you currently do on recent outings. Utilizing enhanced viewing and printing options, the hand-icapper can look at or print out as many or as few past performance lines as desired. The newCondensed Print option will even let Formulator select the maximum number of races that willfit on a two-page layout.

Wow, cool stuff, but are online past performances expensive?

Whether you have a one-track mind or live the simulcast life, DRF Online has a pricing plan foryou. Special subscriptions can reduce your cost per card to one dollar or less. Go to www.drf.comto find out more about our pricing and to check out Formulator.

MORE THAN 600,000 UNIQUEVISITORS PER MONTH

DRF.COM IS THE TOP HORSERACING SITE ON THE INTERNET

H DRF ONLINE HFEATURING

FREE MEMBERSHIPBOOKS & APPARELBUY PPs & MORE

PAGE 12 DAILY RACING FORM WINNING TECHNIQUES

SECTION 1:Name: Horses name, as registered by The Jockey Club. Note: If

Beckon the King had been bred outside the U.S. or Canada, there wouldbe a parenthetical notation of his country of origin. Since he was bredin the U.S., there is no notation.

Owner: Simply the name of the owner of the horse.Silks: A description of the silks, the uniform the jockey is wearing.

This is included to make it easier to follow the jockey during the race.Note: These colors represent the owners of the horse. Each of the own-ers horses will be represented by the same silks.

Number: The betting number to be used when placing a bet on thishorse, also the numbershown on the saddle-cloth worn by thehorse. Note: If there ismore than one horseentered by the sametrainer or owner, atmany tracks there arerules governingwhether those horses will run as an entry meaning a bet on eitherhorse includes the other co-entered horse in any of your wagers. In thecase of an entry, you will see lower case letters added to denote it: 1and 1a, for example.

Jockey: The last name of the jockey, followed by either the first nameinitial, or first and middle name initials. In parenthesis after the jock-eys name, DRF displays the numbers of starts the jockey has made sofar this meet, the number of wins, the number of second-place finishes,and the number of third-place finishes, followed by the jockeys winpercentage for the meet. The second set of parenthesis displays thejockeys number of starts, wins, and win percentage for either the pre-vious or current year, depending on how far into the current year it is.

SECTION 2:Color: An abbreviation describing the color of the horse. In this case,

the capital B stands for Bay.Sex: An abbreviation describing the sex of the horse. Most common

abbreviations are c for colt, f for filly, h for a horse (maleThoroughbred age 5 or older), m for a mare (female Thoroughbredage 5 or older), or g for gelding.

Age: Numeric notation of the age in years of the horse who is run-ning. In this case, Beckon the King is 5 years old. All Thoroughbredsare considered a year older January 1 of each year. Note: DRF also hasa parenthetical notation of what month the horse was born. This infor-mation is available for 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds.

Purchase Information: If a horse is purchased at public auction, DRFpast performances will list an abbreviation of which sale, the monthand year, followed by the purchase price. Note: In the case of Beckonthe King, there is no such notation because he was never sold in an auc-tion.

Sire: The father of the horse. Beckon the Kings father is Ghazi.Sires sire: Also know as grandsire, this is the father of the father of

the horse.Stud Fee: The price to breed to the sire. In this case, to breed any

mare to Ghazi would cost the breeder $5,000. Dam: The mother of the runner. Beckon the Kings mother is Our

Locket. Dams Sire: Also know as broodmare sire, this is the father of the

mother of the horse.Breeder: The name of the person or country where breeding

farm/operation who bred this horse, followed by the state the horse wasborn.

Trainer: The trainers name. In parentheses after the name, DRF dis-plays the numbers of starts the trainers horses have made so far thismeet, the number of wins, the number of second-place finishes, and thenumber of third-place finishes, followed by the trainers win percent-age for the meet. The second set of parenthesis displays the trainersnumber of starts, wins, and win percentage for either the previous orcurrent year, depending on how far into the current year it is.

continued on page 13

Section 1

Section 2

Daily Racing Form exclusive features highlighted in Selected tracks will carry 12 lines of past performances. All Grade 1 stakes carry 20 lines.

reverse type.

Betting Number, Horse, Country of origin (if foreign), Owner, Silks, Jockey with record at meet, record year to date

Jockey, Medication,Weight, EquipmentApprentice allowancewould follow afterjockeys name

Odds to $1, (*

indicates favorite, e indicates coupled entry,f indicates field) Speed rating, Trackvariant

Comment line, Number of starters

First three finishers, Weights, Margins

Italics indicate horse finished first in hisnext start. Bold indicates prior meeting(s) between these horses

Post position, Fractional callswith margins, Finish with margin

Date, Race number, Track, Track condition,Distance, Surface

Workouts: date, track, distance, trackcondition, final time, comment, ranking

Previous trainer line

Medication, Weight to be carried today;L in reverse typeindicates first-time Lasix

Blinkers ON

Color, Sex, Age, Month of foaling, (2/3-year-olds);Where sold at auction, year, price;Sire (sires sire), Dam (dams sire);Breeder, State or country of foaling;Trainer with record at meet, record year to date

Layoff line:single line indicates 45 days ormore(double line indicates year or more)

Tomlinson Ratings

Trainer Form

First call margins in routes

Record of claimed from trainer

Stud Fee

Lifetime record in all racesRecord for current yearRecord for previous yearRecord at todays track

Lifetime record on fast track Lifetime record on wet tracks, Lifetime record in turf races, Record at todays distance

Indicatesblinker change fromlast start

Best Beyer Figure Categories

Key race indicator

Fractional times for horse in lead, Final timeof winner, Age, Sex, Restrictions, Class ofrace, Purse, Claiming high/low range

Beyer Speed Figure

EXPLANATIONH DRF PAST PERFORMANCESH

Note: Beckon the Kings past performance was altered for illustrative purposes.

DAILY RACING FORM WINNING TECHNIQUES PAGE 13

SECTION 3:Weight: Weight the horse is carrying on his back. In this case, Beckon the King was carrying

116 pounds Note: When a small number follows the weight, it indicates the apprentice allowanceclaimed. Apprentice riders are entitled to weight allowances of 3, 5, 7, or 10 pounds, based onexperience and contract rules.

Medication: In this case, the L stands for Lasix, a commonly administered diuretic. Wherestate rules permit, horses may run on various medications. The letter B indicates the horsehas been treated with the analgesic Butazolidin. Note: The L in reverse type in this space indi-cates the horse is running on Lasix for the first time, which some handicappers feel is a valu-able angle.

Lifetime record: Indicates a horses number of starts in his career (in this case, 17), followedby number of wins, number of second-place finishes, number of third-place finishes, and careerearnings from all of those starts. Finally, this line concludes with the horses career best BeyerSpeed Figure - in this case, a 101.

Current year record: Indicates a horses number of starts this year (in this case, 1), followedby number of wins, number of second-place finishes, number of third-place finishes, and year-to-date earnings from those starts. Finally, this line concludes with the horses best Beyer SpeedFigure for this year - in this case, a 97.

Last year record: Indicates a horses number of starts last year (in this case, 5), followed bynumber of wins, number of second-place finishes, number of third-place finishes, and yearlyearnings from those starts. Finally, this line concludes with the horses best Beyer Speed Figurefor last year - in this case, a 101.

Todays track/surface record: Indicates a horses number of starts at the racetrack he is run-ning on today, on the surface he is running on today (in this case, Beckon the King had run 3times over the Gulfstream turf course-the race where DRF pulled this Past Performance fromwas indeed a turf race at Gulfstream), followed by number of wins, number of second-place fin-ishes, number of third-place finishes, and career total earnings over this racetrack/this surface.Finally, this line concludes with the horses best Beyer Speed Figure for this racetrack on thesurface for this race - in this case, a 101.

Dirt fast track record: Indicates a horses number of career starts on any dirt track ratedfast (not a wet track) followed by number of wins, number of second-place finishes, numberof third-place finishes, and career total earnings from those starts. Finally, this line concludeswith the horses career best Beyer Speed Figure over a fast dirt track - in this case, a 97.

Wet track record: Indicates a horses number of career starts on any dirt track rated wet(this includes tracks rated muddy/sloppy/wet fast/good) followed by number of wins, numberof second place finishes, number of third place finishes, and career total earnings from thosestart (s). Finally, this line concludes with the horses career best Beyer Speed Figure over a wettrack - in this case, there is none, as Beckon the King has never raced in the mud.

Tomlinson wet track rating: This number rates a horses chances for success on a wet track,based on his breeding. When a horses mud rating is 320 or higher, he merits further consider-ation as a horse who could perform particularly well over a wet racetrack. This number can beparticularly helpful the first couple of times over a wet racetrack, before the horses preferencefor the mud is known.

Turf record: Indicates a horses number of career starts on the turf (grass), followed by num-ber of wins, number of second-place finishes, number of third-place finishes, and career totalearnings from those starts. Finally, this line concludes with the horses career best Beyer SpeedFigure over the turf - in this case, a 101.

Tomlinson turf rating: This number rates a horses chances for success on the turf, based onhis breeding. When a horses turf rating is 280 or higher, he merits further consideration as ahorse who could perform particularly well over a grass surface. This number can be particu-larly helpful the first couple of times over the turf, before the horses preference for the turf isknown. Note: In the case of Beckon the King, there is an asterisk next to his 300 turf rating. Theasterisk means there has been a limited sample, in terms of offspring of the particular sire run-ning over the surface in question.

Distance/surface record: Indicates a horses number of career starts at this distance on thissurface followed by number of wins, number of second-place finishes, number of third-place fin-

ishes, and career total earnings from those starts. Finally, this line concludes with the horsescareer best Beyer Speed Figure at this distance on any turf course - in this case, a 100.

SECTION 4:Date race was run: Beckon the Kings most recent race was run on February 11, 2003.Race number, track: Beckon the Kings most recent race was the 6th race at GP - Gulfstream

Park. A complete list of track abbreviations is published in the past performance section ofmost issues of Daily Racing Form, and is available at DRF.com. A (diamond symbol) precedinga track name denotes a racetrack outside the United States and Canada. Note: Many of Beckonthe Kings earlier races were in Europe, and the diamond symbol is evident in the bottom halfof the past performance, as it is described in this section. Another note: The thin line beneaththe date of Beckon the Kings last race indicates that Beckon the King was coming off of a lay-off, meaning he had not raced within 45 days. A double line in this spot would indicate he hadnot raced in more than one year.

Track condition: fm: The turf was firm that day at Gulfstream. Turf condition abbreviations:hd (hard), fm (firm), gd (good), yl (yielding), sf (soft), and hy (heavy). Dirt condition abbrevia-tions: fst (fast), wf (wet-fast), gd (good), sly (sloppy), my (muddy), sl (slow), hy (heavy), and fr(frozen).

Distance of race/surface: This race was 1 1/6 mile on the turf course. An asterisk (*) beforethe distance indicates it was an approximate, or about, distance (*7f = about 7 furlongs). Manyother distances are represented in Beckon the Kings past performance. On July 4th, 2000, heraced at a mile; on May 28th he sprinted 7 furlongs; on November 28th, 1999, he raced a mile andone-eighth (9 furlongs).

Fractional times: Three fractional times in seconds are given for each race at all distancesover 5 1/2 furlongs. In this 1 and one and one-sixteeth mile race, the first fraction :25 1/5 is therace leaders time after a quarter-mile; the second fraction :50 3/5 is the leaders time after a half-mile; the third fraction 1:14 2/5 is the leaders time after three-quarters of a mile. Note: The timeafter the second colon is in fifths of a second.

Final time: The winning horse stopped the teletimer in 1:43 1/5. This is always the time of thefirst horse to cross the finish line, even if the winner is disqualified from first position.

Starting position: Sometimes, turf races are started from a chute position, which, dependingon the track in question, can affect the timing of the race. The + sign indicates that this race wasstarted from an infield chute on Gulfstream Parks turf course.

Type of race: The 4 with an arrow next to it means the race is for horses age 4 or older. TheO Clm means this was an optional claiming race, a race in which the trainer/owner had theoption of running the horse to be sold or not sold. The 100000 means the horse was entered forthe claiming price of $100,000, and the (100-90) means the conditions of the race included horsesin the range of $100,000 - $90,000 range. Note: If the horses trainer/owner had opted to NOT enterBeckon the King for a claiming price in this type of race, there would have been an N next tothe (100-90) indicating not entered for sale. There are numerous types of races in Beckon theKings past performance. His race at Churchill Downs on July 4 in the Firecracker BreedersCup Handicap was a G2 - a Grade 2 stakes race. His race at Gulfstream in February of 2000was a $38,000 allowance race for N3x, meaning non-winners of 3 races in his lifetime, otherthan maiden race, claiming race, or starter race. Finally, if you skim all the way down to thebottom of his past performance, you can see Beckon the Kings win on May 29, 2001 in Irelandin a Maiden 7100 race (not shown). A Maiden race is a race for horses who have never wonbefore in their career, and 7100 is the monetary purse of the race in U.S. dollars.

Section 4

Section 3

z = Best of day/distanceB = BreezingD = Driving

(d) = Worked around dogsE = Easilyg = Worked from gateH = Handilytr.t = Training trackTR = Training race3/25 = Workout ranking(W) = Wood Chips

Workout Line b = Blinkersf = Front bandagesB = ButazolidinL = Lasix (furosemide)n = Nasal stripr = Bar shoe

Equipment & Medication

DIRT TRACKSfst = Fastwf = Wet-Fastgd = Goodsly = Sloppymy = Muddysl = Slowhy = Heavyfr = Frozen

TURF &STEEPLECHASEhd = Hardfm = Firmgd = Goodyl = Yieldingsf = Softhy = Heavy

Track Condition

Note: Beckon the Kings past performance wasaltered for illustrative purposes.

PAGE 14 DAILY RACING FORM WINNING TECHNIQUES

Section 5:Beyer Speed Figure: Beckon the King earned a 97 Beyer

Speed Figure in his February 11th race, and shows a career-best Beyer of 101 in his March 11th, 2000 race at Gulfstream(not shown). Beyer Speed Figures are available exclusively inDaily Racing Form. Every performance by every horse inNorth America is assigned a number which reflects the timeof the race and the inherent speed of the track over which itwas run, and permits easy comparison of efforts at differentdistances. A figure of 95 denotes exactly the same quality ofperformance whether it was earned at Santa Anita or SuffolkDowns. Note: Beyer Speed Figures are not available for racesoutside of North America; instead Daily Racing Form past per-formances carry Timeform ratings, a highly respectedprovider of performance ratings for European racing.Timeform ratings are on a different scale than Beyer ratings in fact, they are ratings compiled by experienced writers andshould be utilized with this in mind. A fairly accurate formu-la to translate Timeform ratings into Beyer Speed Figures isTimeform rating minus 13. If you look at any of Beckon theKings European races at the beginning of his past perfor-mance (not shown), youll see his Timeform ranking directlyunderneath the name of the track.

Post position: 7. The horse left the starting gate from stallnumber 7. Post position can differ from official program num-ber because of late scratches, horses coupled as a bettingentry, or runners grouped in a mutuel field.

First call: 3. The horses position immediately after leavingthe starting gate or after a quarter-mile, depending on the dis-tance of the race. The 3, in this case, indicates Beckon the Kingwas third after a quarter-mile, and the superscript 1 indicateshe trailed the lead horse by 1 length at that point in the race.

Second call: Another 3. Beckon the King was 3rd, 1 1/2lengths behind the leader after a half-mile. Again, the large fig-ure indicates the horses running position, the smaller figureis the margin behind the leader. If the horse had been in frontat this point the smaller figure would indicate the margin infront of the second horse.

Third call: Beckon the King, still running evenly in 3rd. Thehorse was 3rd, 1 length behind the leader after three-quartersof a mile.

Stretch call: Yet another 3. Beckon the King has nowdropped two lengths behind the leader (indicated by the small2), while still in third place. Note: The stretch call is alwaysmade one furlong (one-eighth of a mile) from the finish line.

Finish: Another 3 Beckon the King finished third, with thesmall 1 indicating that he was one length behind the winneras the winner crossed the finish line. If Beckon the King hadbeen the winner, the smaller figure would indicate the marginahead of the second horse. A symbol y after the finish meansthe horse finished in a dead heat with one or more horses forthat position.

Jockey: Bailey J D. This horse was ridden by Jerry Baileyon Feb 11th. Note: When a small number follows the jockeysname it indicates the apprentice allowance claimed.Apprentice riders are entitled to weight allowances of 3, 5, 7, or10 pounds, based on experience and contract rules.

Medication: L. Where state rules permit, horses may run onvarious medications. L indicates a horse has been treated withthe diuretic Lasix (generic name: furosemide); B indicateshorse has been treated with the analgesic Butazolidin (gener-ic name: phenylbutazone).

Weight carried: 118. The horse carried 118 pounds in thisrace. This is the weight of the rider and equipment (saddle,lead pads, etc.) and includes the apprentice allowance when anallowance is claimed.

Blinkers: If you look a few races down the PP, to Beckon theKings May 6th 2002 race, youll see a small b next to theweight carried info. This small b indicates that Beckon theKing wore blinkers in this race. Note: If there is a change inequipment-from the last start, blinkers on or blinkers off

will be noted in the horse heading.Equipment: Sometimes youll also see other notations in the

space where the blinkers notation is. Such as the letter f,which indicates the horse wore front bandages on his legs. Ifthe horse also wore blinkers, the letter b would appear afterthe f (fb). Another notation is the letter r. The letter r indi-cates the horse wore bar shoes. A horse wears bar shoes toalleviate hoof problems.

Previous trainer statistics, off of a claim: The previous con-ditioners year-to-date stats (starters, wins, and win percent-age) will be included in the past performance after a horse hasbeen claimed by a new trainer. Note: In the case of Beckon theKing, he has never been claimed before, so there is no suchstatistic showing.

Section 6Closing odds: *2.20. Beckon the King was $2.20 to $1 in the

win pool. The * symbol preceding the odds indicates the horsewas the betting favorite. The letter e following the oddsmeans the horse was coupled in the betting (an entry) withone or more horse. The letter f in this position would indi-cate the horse was in the mutuel field. If Beckon the King hadwon, he would have paid $6.40 for a $2 win bet. Note: Payoutsare calculated based upon a $2 wager, i.e., $2.20 x 2 + $2 (wagerreturned) = $6.40.

Speed rating, track variant: 78-18. The first number is thespeed rating, a comparison of this horses time with the besttime at the distance at that track in the last three years, whichis represented by the par value of 100. For each fifth of secondslower than the best time, one point is deducted. Hence, if thebest time is 1:10 and the horse in question had run the race in1:10 and 4/5, the speed rating would be 96. The second figure(18) is the track variant, which shows how many points belowpar the times for all races at the distance on the same surfacewere that day. The lower the track variant, the faster thetrack, or the better the overall quality of competition was forthat day. Note: The track variant process is one of the mostsophisticated, complicated elements of a past performance.But as a simple tool, it can help the user to analyze whether anincredibly fast final time or fraction is really as impressive asit seems.

First three horses at finish: The company line shows thehorses which finished first, second, and third in the race, theweight each carried, and the margins separating each onefrom the next horse. If any of these horses was disqualified orfinished in a dead heat, the symbol D for disqualified or DH fordead-heat would precede the horses name. Note: In manycases, the top 3 horses names must be abbreviated to fit intothe past performance. In the case of the February 11 race, thisis the case, as the winner was Medievil Hero, the second placehorse was Ivars Big Peaceful, and the show horse was Beckonthe King.

Next out winners italicized in company lines: If you lookdown to the July 4th, 2002 race, youll see the name of the horseRiviera is italicized. Horses italicized in the company linereturned to win their next start. Note: Horses printed in bold-face type in the company line are entered in todays race, too.

Comment line: A capsule description of the horses perfor-mance written by the chart caller. Emphasis is placed on trou-ble encountered during the race and/or how he finished. If thehorse won the race, the manner in which he won is indicated- driving, ridden out, handily or easily (in order of effort).

Number of starters: Simply the number of horses started inthe race.

Section 7Workouts: Horses work out in the morning to prepare for

racing. The most recent workouts are found under eachhorses past performances. Workouts list the date (Feb5), thetrack or training facility (In this case Pay, which is PaysonPark, a training center), the distance in furlongs (5f), trackcondition (fst means fast), time (1:05), comment (B meansbreezing, which indicates the horse was not under strong urg-

ing, whereas H means handily, indicating the horse wasunder urging from his rider during the workout) and rankingamong the other horses who worked that day at that distanceat that track (3/5). Up to six workouts are listed for horses thathave previously raced and 12 for first-time starters. A bullet() indicates the fastest workout of the day at that track anddistance. Note: Other abbreviations include g which indi-cates the horse worked from a starting gate, and d whichshows the workout was around temporary cones or dogsplaced out into the track to protect the inside paths. Times forthese works are generally slower than other times at the samedistance.

Comprehensive trainer statistics: There are 29 trainer sta-tistics that DRF is tracking, covering every trainers recordover this year and last year in a variety of situations. Up to 6of these categories will show up under the bottom PP, depend-ing on the number of applicable statistics. Each trainer statwill list:

l the number of Starts for the trainer in this category, l the win percentage for the trainer in this categoryl and the $2.00 Return On Investment for the trainer in this

category. In the case of Beckon the King, there are only 2 rel-evant stats - his trainers record on the turf, (423 starters, 23%winners, with a return of $1.61 for every $2 wagered), and hisrecord in allowance races (324 .25 $1.63)

The categories displayed will be culled from the list of 29, indescending order, based on having at least one start in the cat-egory. In other words, if the trainer has had no starts in agiven category, DRF will move onto the next stat until it findsas many as six relevant stats. In addition, DRF will ignore thestatistical categories that are irrelevant to race conditions(such as first time off the claim, if the horse has not beenclaimed.)

A complete list of 29 comprehensive trainer stats appears on page 3.

Section 5

Section 6

Section 7

32Race for 3-year-olds and up4 Race for 4-year-olds42Race for 4-year-olds and up3 Foreign race (outside of U.S. and

Canada)4 Race for state-breds only, Restricted race for horses who meet

certain conditionsm Race for fillies, or fillies and maresp Main turf course5 Inner turf coursew Race originally scheduled for turf but

contested on the main track, typicallydue to rain

: Inner dirt trackq Disqualified (symbol located next to

odds and in company line, if horse is among firstthree finishers)

t Dead Heat (symbol located in com-pany line if horses are among firstthree finishers)

y Dead Heat (symbol used next to finishposition)

z Bullet denoting best workout of day atthe distance at the track

* About distance+ Start from turf chute

SYMBOLS &ABBREVIATIONS

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