How do you assess a harness race? What are the traps facing punters when they set out to win money at the trots? P.P.M's new harness racing writer Peter Davies has the answers and in the first article in what will become a regular series, he tells you all about the ins and outs of harness racing form.
When examining a form guide for a harness meeting, races which have horses with inadequate or non-existent form should be avoided. It is also better to have track form or comparable track form where possible, to compare times with the greatest accuracy.
The ideal race for Moonee Valley would be one where all the horses had their last start at Moonee Valley - as opposed to horses whose last starts were at Addington, New Zealand, for example.
With good form information, you will be able to tell if there are horses racing which are habitual losers or breakers.
When there is a horse which has a record of breaking, you must be certain that it will not interfere with your choice and that your choice is not a breaker. Interference is more likely to occur when there is more than one front.
Breaking of gait is seen more often in races for trotters or with inexperienced horses. If you back a breaker, you risk seeing your horse galloping into last position as the other competitors overtake.
A race consisting of contenders of equal ability, causing a very open betting race, should be avoided if no real distinction can be made between horses. This is also true for races where your choice is odds-on; remember-"Odds On, Look On".
If your leading choice has an inexperienced driver or a losing driver it is better not to bet. A leading driver will increase the other advantages your choice has, but a losing driver will negate the advantages your choice has.
There is also the preference horses may have for various tracks. A horse may be unnerved if it has been used to racing on the 1008 metre circumference track at Cobram and suddenly it finds itself on the 706 metre circumference track at Horsham. When your main chance is starting at a new distance, you can either leave the race alone or you can compensate for the distance change.
When a horse is starting first-up from a spell, even if it has an excellent record, the race will be risky because it is not possible to know if the horse is race fit.
Just as in all racing, in the harness code the track is described as fast, good, etc.; and when it rains, considerations as to whether to bet or not must be taken.
If you are going to try betting on a rain-affected track, look for the mudrunners, that is, the horses which are able to handle the wet conditions. These horses must be able to get away quickly from the rest of the field; so beware of races with more than one front. If your choice is at a handicap mark (e.g. 10m, 20m, etc.) it may be held up by the rest of the field.
The older more experienced horse should also be carefully considered, especially if a leading driver is in the sulky, e.g. Gavin Lang, Andrew Peace, Vin Knight, to name a few.
Fortunately we don't have the problem which occurs at tracks such as Roosevelt Raceway in the U.S.A.-snow. Mind you, in that situation it is far better to stay at home with a warm drink.
To give you an idea of what happens: when a pacer or a trotter is at full speed, the hoofs come within centimetres of either the knee or other hoof respectively. If the horse slips and slides over the track, the momentum will be lost or, worse still, the sulky slips across the track with wheels locking between competitors sulkies.
The approach which I take to wet weather harness racing is the same as that which I take to investing at the gallops meetings, i.e. Don Scott's view--only bet if the track is good or fast. Let me take this further: if the top few millimetres of the track are slippery, don't bet. Fortunately with the well-made tracks now available, the rain has less effect.
Now we are going to briefly investigate flute meetings:
Moonee Valley, Monday, 14 December, 1987 (Day Meeting); Harold Park, Friday, 11 December, 1987 (Night Meeting); and, Mildura, Friday, 11 December, 1987 (Night Meeting). I would advise you to try to get the relevant form guides if possible.
MOONEE VALLEY
Race 1-Corpice Feeds Stakes: This race is a mobile for 2yo. pacers over 1940m. Three horses are having their first start. This race is not for betting.
Race 2-Trotters Stakes: This race is a mobile over 2380m. Most of these horses have good exposed form with recent country starts over the same sort of distances. If you consider the different track times to be comparable, the race is good for betting.
Race 3-Victorian Sires Stakes No. 5: This race is a mobile for 4yo. mares over 1940m. With one first starter and the danger of betting on female horses, I believe the race is not for betting on. Also the first emergency has Ted Demmler driving for a first start. If it gets a start, it is a risk.
Race 4-Rice Growers Stakes: This race is a mobile for pacers over 2380m. All of these horses have exposed form with a country class of 28 and no metropolitan wins. This race is for betting, but compensations should be considered for the various last start tracks.
Race 5--Corpice C Three-Year-Old: This race is a mobile for 3yo. fillies over 1940m. A female horse-only race, to be gambled on at your own risk. Not to be bet on.
Race 6--Corpice M Stakes: This race is a mobile over 2380m. With good exposed form and drivers such as C. Alford, D. Dove, V Knight, and B. Gath, this is a good race to bet on.
Race 7-Hi-Energy Stakes: This race is a mobile for winners of at least seven races, over 1940m. These horses have good strong country and metropolitan class with recent Moonee Valley performances. This race is good for investing on.
Race 8--Cool Conditioner Stakes: This race is a mobile over 2380m for winners of at least two races. All these horses have good recent form making the race good to invest on.
Race 9-Rice Power Stakes: This race is a mobile over 1940m for winners of at least five races. With all these horses having good recent form, this race is good for betting.
Race 10-Corpice F Stakes: This race is a mobile for 3yo. fillies over 1940m. No betting because of female horses.
Race 11-Rice Pellets Stakes: This race is a mobile over 2380m for winners of at least one race. This race has good exposed form and is good for investing.
HAROLD PARK
Race 1-McWilliams Wines Christmas Gift (5): This race is a mobile over 1960m for winners of at least six races. All these horses have exposed Harold Park form for their last start. This race is good for investing.
Race 2-McWilliams Wines Christmas Gift (6): With the same conditions as race 1 and once again good for betting.
Race 3-McWilliams Wines Christmas Gift (7): This race is a mobile over 1970m for winners of at least seven races. With plenty of exposed form, this race is good for betting.
Race 4-R. J. Ralph & Co. Pace: This race is a mobile over 2700m for winners of at least five races. Good exposed form allows betting.
Race 5-H. & H. Steel Pace: This race is a mobile over 2350m for winners of at least three races. There is good exposed form with last starts at either Bankstown or Harold Park. This race is for betting on.
Race 6-Sport & Recreation Pace: This race is a mobile over 2350m for winners of at least nine races. With good exposed form, this race is for betting.
Race 7-TCN Channel 9 Pace: This race is a mobile over 1960m for 3yo. pacers. As these pacers have had recent starts at Bulli, Harold Park, Bankstown, and Albion Park, this race may be not good for betting due to the variety of tracks and distances.
Race 8-H. & H. Fixing Contractors Pace: This race is a mobile over 2700m for winners of at least five races. This race consists of horses with good recent form making the race good for betting.
Click here to read Part 2.
By Peter Davies
PRACTICAL PUNTING - APRIL 1988