HR Clocker FAQWhat added insight can I gain from the HR Clocker Reports? Who uses the HR Clocker Reports? What are some of the best uses of HR's workout information? How important are workouts? When are the workouts most useful? When are the workouts least meaningful? When should a "bad" work be excused/forgiven? What is an effective routine for evaluating recent works? How good is a "B" work (or any particular grade)? Why don't the HR Clocker Reports have works for many of the horses? What are some POSITIVE signs to look for when using the HR Clocker Reports? What are some NEGATIVE signs to look for when using the HR Clocker Reports? Why should I use the HR Clocker Reports? There are many reasons you should use the Clocker Reports. Perhaps the biggest reason is that they will give you a better view of the current fitness and ability of the horses you're considering to wager on or against. In a game where the handicapper must make numerous assumptions and assessments in every race, Clocker Reports help the handicapper make more accurate assessments. Also, the information contained in the Clocker Reports can give you a unique perspective on a horse that can't be inferred from the past performances. And, since the information provided by HR's private clockers is not widely disimenated, it has tremendous wager value. The HR Clocker Reports are particularly helpful when handicappers encounter maiden races where there are several first time starters or lightly raced horses that may improve overnight. In fact, most multi-race wagers contain at least one such race. Rather than including most horses in the race, the HR Clocker Reports allow you to throw out a good percentage of the horses that can't run and focus on a few good working horses. Maiden races become an oppurtunity to bet with inside knowledge rather than a necessary pass or a spread race that eats up your betting resources. What added insight can I gain from the HR Clocker Reports? The general public only knows the date, time and distance of a workout. With the HR Clocker Reports you have a much better understanding of the various circumstances under which the workout occured:
Who uses the HR Clocker Reports? Handicapper's Report (HR) has been providing workout information to the thoroughbred industry since 1975. Their list of longtime customers represent a Who's Who of racing. Trainers, owners, jockey agents, professional and recreational horseplayers all use the HR Clocker Reports on a daily basis. What are some of the best uses of HR's workout information?
How important are workouts? Workouts are the centerpiece of the horse's overall conditioning program. Yet, despite their supreme importance and value, HR's workout information is not a magic bullet. It wll not lead you to the winner of every race. But, as part of your regular handicapping arsenal, HR's workout information will improve your bottom line...more winners, less losers, and better prices. Always keep in mind that workouts are simply a part of the handicapping puzzle...albeit, a very important and underappreciated part of the handicapping puzzle. Workouts, by themselves, should not be solely used to handicap a race. Instead, workouts should be used as positive & negative tools in light of all other handicapping factors. The longer you use the workout information, the more you'll learn how to best use it. When are the workouts most useful? The HR Clocker Reports are particularly helpful when assessing horses with little or no recent form, horses in new surroundings, and horses making any noteworthy changes . Handicappers will find the Clocker Reports a great tool for evaluating any First time starter, lightly raced horse, layoff returnee, shipper, those starting in a new barn or racing with new equipment. The Clocker reports are also excellent tools to anticipate or corroborate a change in a horse's overall form/condition...any horse which noticeably improves in a workout is a candidate to show improvement in his/her upcoming races. When are the workouts least meaningful? When experienced horses show multiple recent starts, trainers will often employ a schedule of maintenance works which are merely used to hold/keep a horse racing fit. Little to no insight can be gained from these maintenance works - as the horse is not asked for a serious effort. Many of these maintenance works can be found amongst the horses racing at the lower claiming levels. Generally speaking, unless a horse shows a surprisingly good or bad effort in his/her recent works, little knowledge can be gained from the works of horses with well established recent form. When should a "bad" work be excused/forgiven? Unless it was horrible, you can't automatically eliminate a horse just because he worked poorly...especially if it is was the most recent work occurring just days before the race. Many horses know the difference between a work and a race and it shows in their works. So, if a horse receives a grade as low as "C", you should often ignore it. It's not good, but it may not be that bad either. Only if the recent work earns a grade of "D+" or less should you automatically toss the horse. Of course, if a short-priced horse has a poor or modest work showing, you might want to treat the horse as at least vulnerable. What is an effective routine for evaluating recent works? Judge the works by the best of the two most recent drills. For example, a horse shows two works on the Daily Clocker Report. A "B+" earned 12 days ago and a "C+" earned 6 days ago. More often than not, the horse will run to the "B+" drill. So, use the better of the two most recent works. Also, always remember that it is not the time of the work, but "How" and "With whom" that is most important when evalualating the quality of a workout. How good is a "B" work (or any particular grade)? It depends on the quality of the horse and how the horse usually works. Stakes caliber horses can routinely record "B+" or better works. Allowance horses may also routinely record "B" or "B+" works. On the otherhand, a "B" work by a low-level claimer might be regarded as exceptional. And, a "C+" work for an allowance horse may be seen as a negative but the same "C+" work would not usually be a considered negative for a lower level claiming horse. Why don't the HR Clocker Reports have works for many of the horses? On average, HR's workout notes will cover 30-40% of the horses running each day. Handicapper's Report emphasizes quality and integrity in its workout notes over quantity or "invented works". If the HR clocker caught the work, it is reported and assessed. If the HR clocker didn't catch the work, it won't be reported or assessed. What are some POSITIVE signs to look for when using the HR Clocker Reports? Listed below are some clues which may indicate that a horse is ready to show sharp or improved form in an upcoming race:
What are some NEGATIVE signs to look for when using the HR Clocker Reports? Listed below are some clues which indicate that a horse may be a disappointment in an upcoming race:
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