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For decades, horse race betting has been a popular pastime for many people in Malaysia. The country has a rich history with the sport, so there is no doubt why countless Malaysians check Malaysia horse racing results regularly. And apart from being a social event, horse race bettors also risk their money in the sport to earn a profit once their picks win.
While online gambling in Malaysia is still technically prohibited, numerous legal platforms offer Malaysian bettors an opportunity to place bets on different horse races. These platforms provide betting options that add immense excitement to every horse race. Those who are new to online betting in Malaysia must learn this if they want to increase their chances of winning.
But apart from understanding the standard betting options in horse racing, it would also help if horse race enthusiasts knew the different types of races that they might place a wager on. One example of this is handicap races. This horse race type makes betting for horses more challenging while also adding an adequate amount of thrill to the race.
What is Handicapping?
In any sport, the stronger competitor is always favoured to win. In horse racing, horses with a good performance history are always expected to come up on top of their race. So, many tracks have handicap races, making the battlefield more even for underperforming horses.
Handicapping is when racetracks require horses with remarkable performances to carry more weight in the saddle. The added weight can significantly impact a horse’s performance and allow lesser-performed horses to win races. The racetrack secretary usually determines which horses would need to be handicapped, mainly depending on the result of previous races.
How is the Handicap Mark Calculated?
Many horse rating bodies base the Official Rating of a horse on two factors: race wins and raced three times. This will allow race secretaries to see how well a horse performed and whether it needs to be handicapped. The rating given by the authorities would be the determining factor on how much weight the horse should carry in the following handicap race.
A horse’s handicap rating is not permanent, as handicappers constantly change them based on various factors. For example, horses that win a race will have an increase in rating, while horses with a bad performance will see a decrease in rating. Meanwhile, horses that didn’t win but managed to stay in the middle of the pack might have their ratings untouched.
But there are instances when the horses are also given a handicap penalty before the start of the race. Horses are usually declared for the race five days before the event. But if the horse ran another race in those five days and won, it will be required to carry more weight since a win means the horse should have a higher rating than its original handicap mark when declared for the race.
How can the Extra Weight Affect Bettors?
One of the best things about handicap races is that it makes betting more fun and thrilling, especially since the favourites aren’t, in theory, expected to win easily. The added weight can tone down a horse’s performance, making thinking about which horse to bet on more challenging for the bettors. This can improve someone’s betting experience, as they need to consider more factors before they place their wagers. This includes the jockey, racetrack conditions, and even the weather.
Conclusion
As horse racing gets more popular, beginners in the industry must understand the factors surrounding a particular race. Handicaps can be a game changer in any race, allowing the race organizers to make races, in theory, more even for all horses involved.
Learning about handicap races is an excellent way to create winning betting strategies. And since handicapping requires the top-performing horses to carry more weight than usual, betting on handicap races can be extremely challenging and fun. So, bettors must ensure they do their research and bet through reliable platforms to maximize their opportunities.
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Read More: Malaysia Horse Racing Tips for Beginners
Sources:
- https://www.britishhorseracing.com/regulation/guide-to-handicapping/#:~:text=Handicap%20races%20enable%20horses%20of,horse%20is%20required%20to%20carry.
- https://www.racingexplained.co.uk/jump-racing/handicap-race/
- https://www.britishracecourses.org/guide-to-horse-racing-handicapping/
- https://horseracingsense.com/why-is-horse-race-called-a-handicap/
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/betting/racing/what-is-a-handicap-in-horse-racing/
