What is a Handicap Horse Race? – Get Horse Racing Handicaps Explained

Jamie Clark

Senior Editor

Updated: 20 October 2023

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A handicap in horse racing is a type of race where the weights carried by those competing is based on official BHA ratings if the event takes place in mainland Britain. The horse given the highest rating by the assessor is allotted topweight with all others being relative to the difference between that one’s and their own mark. We discuss what is a handicap horse race is some depth here, so that you understand how such events work.

How Do Handicaps Work in Horse Racing?

The majority of horse races that take place worldwide are handicaps. Understanding what does handicap mean in horse racing circles is thus important if you’re going to take a punt on this sport. Our experts can explain the workings of such events by taking you through an example:

Let’s take an ordinary handicap chase from the National Hunt code of horse racing at random on a standard, run of the mill day in the sport. In a Class 4 event for horses rated 0-105, any entrants at the top of that bracket have topweight of 12st allotted to them. Should any runners have BHA handicap ratings of 105, then that is what they will carry.

If the next best horse with the assessor has a handicap mark of 99, however, then we need to subtract 6lb from 12st to get the allotted weight. That’s because 99 is six less than 105. It equates to 11st 8lb, as there are 14lb to every whole stone in imperial measurements, which remain the unit of weight used for BHA and Irish handicap ratings today. This process applies to every runner down the field based on the difference between their mark and that of the topweight.

The minimum handicap weight is also specified by the terms of the race. With a horse racing handicap over jumps, that is 10st 2lb. Anything rated below 79 in the above race will have to carry that minimum weight regardless of their official rating. This may create a situation where a horse is said to be running from out of the handicap. If you want to see what they should be carrying, then certain media outlets cater for that. They provide what is known as a long handicap.

You can not only see what is a handicap horse race, but how far out of the weights some participants are. Running from out of the handicap puts such horses at a major disadvantage as they compete from a mark that is above their actual official rating. It doesn’t stop some defying the unfavourable terms and winning, though.

What is a Handicap in Horse Racing? – Ratings Fluid not Static

The allocation of weight based on their mark to any runner in a handicap in horse racing only applies to that particular race. Based on their subsequent performance on the track, their current rating can go up, down or remain the same. One thing any seasoned punter that has been placing wagers on horse racing betting sites for a while will tell you, is the assessor puts progressive runners up a lot faster than they reduce the marks for those horses beaten.

If a horse wins a handicap race, then chances are their official rating will go up. It’s not always the same for those who lose, however, as it’s possible to run above expectations in defeat. When a horse’s mark starts to drop, the saying that the handicapper has relented may apply. A key takeaway for you here is that the situation is actually quite fluid. You could have a scenario where all competing horses end up with a very different assessment of their ability following a race.

Part of learning how to bet on horses effectively, then, is seeking out improving and/or well-treated horses. It’s not enough simply to know what is a handicap horse race, but which runners are still getting better and those who are on the wane, or who have fallen in the weights to an attractive mark on the pick of their form. That leaves you with plenty to ponder.

Jamie Clark

How Penalties Can Let a Horse in Lightly to Early-Closing Races

Certain Premier and Heritage Handicaps that take place at major meetings and horse racing festivals are early closers for entries. Unlike top-level conditions races, Group 1s on the Flat or Grade 1s over jumps, you can’t supplement a horse for them, but there are ways of getting in lightly.

BHA official ratings for the competing horses can change after entries close. They will go up for a win and/or a good run in defeat, but may also drop down if performances aren’t up to par. The terms of early closing races mean revised ratings aren’t taken into account, only penalties apply for winning races after a certain date.

A horse over jumps might get a 7lb penalty, or 4lb or 5lb on the Flat, for victory en route to a big handicap. This extra weight could actually end up being less than their revised official rating. That is where you will hear that a horse is “well-in” to a handicap as they’re carrying less weight than their new mark from the assessor.

Pros & Cons of Betting on Horse Racing Handicaps Explained

As with any wager in betting, there are definitely upsides but also some drawbacks to taking a punt on an handicap in horse racing. We believe in being frank with you about that. Making you aware of the pluses, but also the negatives alongside telling you what is a handicap horse race creates a more rounded appreciation of such events:

What is a Non Handicap Horse Race Called?

Horse racing events that aren’t handicaps are called conditions races. This is because the weights carried aren’t based on official ratings, but rather certain conditions. Penalties will apply if they have won a certain calibre of race within a set timeframe. Both the National Hunt and Flat codes have Listed races that act as a bridge between the lower of race and graded or Group races respectively. The highest level of competition is a Grade 1 or Group 1 event.

Away from the zenith of the sport, there are also selling and claiming races where horses can be sold or claimed if they win and a certain price is offered by prospective new owners. Some conditions and handicap races are restricted by age and gender of the horses, as well as a ratings ceiling, but also by the type of jockeys that can ride in them. Some are for amateurs only, while other allow conditionals over jumps and apprentices on the Flat.

Premier Handicap Races over Jumps

Now that you know all about what is a handicap horse race in general terms, it’s time to look at list of specific notable ones in the respective codes of the sport in the UK. We start with those over jumps, namely steeplechases and hurdle races. While there a small number of Grade 2 limited handicaps throughout the core National Hunt season such as the Old Roan Chase, Haldon Gold Cup, Desert Orchid Chase, Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Finale, Cheltenham Silver Trophy and Scottish Champion Hurdle, the majority of valuable handicaps over jumps are called Premier Handicaps.

As of the 2023-24 season, there are around 50 such races held in the UK. These were introduced by the BHA as of 1 October 2022, replacing Grade 3 races. This followed a meeting of the Jump Pattern Committee where this recommendation was implemented. These are the races with Premier Handicap status run in England, Wales and Scotland today:

Heritage Handicaps & Other Handicap Races on the Flat

When it comes to the Flat, if a good class of race of this type (Class 2) is worth a certain amount in total prize money, then it qualifies for Heritage Handicap status. This may seem odd to some punters. Heritage is a word with connotations surrounding storied history, so there are in fact some long-standing and well-established handicaps that, because the prize fund isn’t sufficient, don’t qualify. Knowing what is a handicap horse race is certainly more complex than it first appears.

A notable example of historic race not meeting the requirements for Heritage Handicap status is the Old Newton Cup, which has been run in various guises at Haydock Park since 1807 with its current name coming in almost a century later in 1903. The two lists below deal with Heritage Handicaps and then other prestigious Flat handicap races:

Tips for Betting on Horse Racing Handicaps

We’ve discussed what is a handicap horse race in some depth here, but not how to bet on them successfully. To be perfectly frank with you, these are trickier to be successful in as a punter than conditions races. There is some sage advice our experts want to pass on, however, so here’s what they have to say about betting on handicaps in horse racing:

FAQs

Jamie Clark

Senior Editor

Jamie Clark has been with bettingsites.co.uk from the very beginning and penned the very first pieces of content that appeared right here. Known for his horse racing expertise, his strong gambling knowledge comes from childhood where he was surrounded by both horses and betting. The godson of a former on-track bookmaker at Market Rasen Racecourse, Jamie ended up working in the same industry and became Sports Editor of heavyweight bookies Coral for three years before they merged with Ladbrokes. After a successful spell freelancing for other big names in the business, he helped us launch this site with his skills, experience and ability coming in useful. Read long form content across a range of betting subjects from Jamie right here.

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