Handicaps Ratings Explained

Handicap ratings are compiled by various different sources throughout the UK. Before explaining the differences between the two most widely used,  its probably best to give you an overview of  what Handicap ratings are all about.

UK Handicap ratings defined

These ratings help determine each horses level of  ability in a numerical scale. In simple terms the larger the number assigned to a horse, the more capable its considered to be.

Around 50% of all races in the UK each season are handicaps. In theory handicap races are designed to give each horse an equal chance because the highest rated horse in each race will have to carry the heaviest weight and those horse considered inferior will Carry less. That’s the theory, but unfortunately  its not quite that simple, and each horse is reviewed and re-assessed after every race.

The handicapper’s core aim is to increase the weight and ratings of those horses which are improving, such as recent winners. Horses may be raised, lowered or remain on the same handicap rating. It all depends on the type of races the animals are entered in to in relation to how they have been performing.

As a general rule of thumb when a horse performs better than its assigned current rating then it will probably be raised. And if the revised mark is larger than it current handicap band it will have to step up in class for its next race.

For example a handicap horse rated 70 in a 0-70 race would  have to step up in class if it won that race.  Conversely if the horse performs way below its rating, then it may be eligible to be lowered in class. This is a simplified overview of how the BHB -British Horse Racing board assign handicap ratings to horses.

Conversely the Racingpost`s own rating (RPR) are generally higher> SEE SCREEN SHOT BELOW

In the above example you can see the OR – Official BHB ratings for each horse don’t go above the 70 maximum, but the RPR ratings go up to 80. This is because they aren`t answerable to any one, such as each horses connections. Their ratings are compiled using similar information to the BHB, but  primarily they are a tipping service which rates horses on a more fluid scale.

The current rating in the UK are as follows…

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National Hunt, Jumps horses 0-175

Flat racing horses 0-140

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Flat race classifications

Maiden races Are for horses that have never won a race of any sort

Conditions races Are for horses that have won a maiden race

Listed races Are for horses that have won a conditions race and can be entered into a listed race

Group races Are for the best horses in training they are categorized as GROUPS 1, 2 and 3. GROUP 1 races are for the very best horses in the UK and on occasions feature some of the best horses from Europe as well.

Claiming Races Are for horses that can be bought for a fixed price based on the weight they have carried. Horses that are claimed change owner after the race. Claiming races are usually contested by horses with mediocre ability.

Auction Races Are for horses that have been bought at auction, the weight a horse carries is set by the price it fetched at this auction. So the cheaper the horse was bought for the less weight it will carry. Two year olds usually contest these races.

Selling Races Are usually contested by poor quality horses and the winner is sold by auction, after the race.

Breakdown of the various distances:

• Sprints: 5, 6 or 7 furlong races
• Middle distance: 1m to 1m 4f races
• Long distance races: 1m 6f – 2mile races

Flat racing is divided  into three groups:

• Classics
• Class 1 or Conditions races
• Class 2-7 or Handicap races

Classic Races
There are 5 Classic races run in the UK. Each race is limited to three years old entrants only.

• 2,000 Guineas Stakes
• 1,000 Guineas Stakes
• Epsom Oaks
• Epsom Derby
• St. Leger Stakes

Class 1 or Conditions races
Are  contested by the very best horses in the UK, often they include foreign horses

Class 1 races are further divided into the following categories:

• Pattern races

‘Pattern’ races are the best in flat racing. Pattern races are divided into the following sub categories:

Group 1 – Races of major international importance.
Group 2 – Less important than Group 1, but still major international races
Group 3 – Important domestic races

• Listed races

Have less prestige than the group races but are still recognised as high quality races and more important than Handicaps.

Class 2-7 or Handicap races
In Handicap races the BHB handicapper gives horses a rating according to their ability. This rating then translates to the weight that the horse has to carry in the race, in the interest of making it fair so that poorer horses still have a chance of competing against better horses.

Handicaps are divided up from Class 2-7 to make sure horses of similar ratings are racing against each other:

• Class 2 – Heritage Handicaps, Handicaps of rating 86-100, 91-105 and 96-110
• Class 3 – Handicaps of 76-90, and 81-95
• Class 4 – Handicaps of rating 66-80, and 71-85
• Class 5 – Handicaps of rating 56-70, and 61-75
• Class 6 – Handicaps of rating 46-60, and 51-65
• Class 7 – Handicaps of rating 46-50

In summary

Racing Post Ratings versus BHB (British Horse racing Board) ratings

The Racing post private handicap ratings known as RPR – Racing Post Ratings, work differently than those compiled by the BHB. Although they mirror the same scale as the BHB to an extent, e.g. 0-170 for jumps horses and 0-140 for flat horses. The difference is in the way they are complied, meaning in general there are larger numbers assigned to each horse.

Racing post handicappers don’t follow the same guidelines, instead they look at each horses previous race record and decide what an animal might be capable of running under the current racing conditions. In simple terms it more like a professional punters approach to form reading and considers factors  such as…

• course
• distance
• draw
• trainer form

The above list is by no means definative and several other form related factors considered. The racing post have 3 handicappers, one for jumps racing and two for the flat. They use these ratings to compile daily tips for each race covered in the Racingpost.

Conversely the BHB ratings are a little more black and white in the sense they are based around factors such as..

• Race distance
• Winning times
• Weight carried by each horse
• Age
• Margin separating each runner.

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