How To Properly Identify Non-Handicap Races ?

[Aitch]

Forgive me for such a newbie question!

I thought finding Non-Handicaps was simple - as Handicaps always have Handicap in the name of the race somewhere... therefore if it doesn't say Handicap anywhere, it must be NH.

Seems this is far from correct - Nursery races are apparently also Handicaps, and so are a whole bunch of Stakes races, Listed races, etc etc..


Is there a quick way to accurately identify NH races?

I'm thinking races where all the horses have no Official Rating must be NH as there is literally no data for the handicapper to work with?

Or am I off base again... as I keep seeing races where there are both Rated and Unrated horses running?


Would appreciate any advice!

[to75ne]

just look on the bha site, or sporting life race cards, they tell what "type"

[TraderFred]

It will say in the race title if it’s a handicap or not.

NH is used more often as an abbreviation for National Hunt too, rather than non handicap.

[Euler]

Handicaps are listed at Hcap so it's Not Hcap. But of course, a Nursery is effectively a handicap for two-year-olds, so it really depends what you are trying to achieve.

[Aitch]

Checked both of these and most of the bookmaker sites, but can't find a "type" description anywhere - where would it be?

I'm basically looking to filter out all the Handicapped races and focus purely on Non-Handicaps as they're more predictable...

[to75ne]

top one is a sportinglife race card for tomorrows newmarket 2:25 and bottom one same race but from a bha race card. they both give the race type, in the race title/description "

[Aitch]

Thanks for the replies

So is this race a Non-Handicap - even though all the horses have an Official Rating and are Weighted?

16:15 at Curragh today:

https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/rac ... pital-race

https://www.attheraces.com/racecard/Cur ... -2020/1615

[to75ne]

its probably either a conditional stakes or classified stakes, Irish racing is a bit different to UK, whatever their equivalents are that is what it probably is.

[Aitch]

its probably either a conditional stakes or classified stakes, Irish racing is a bit different to UK, whatever their equivalents are that is what it probably is.

So are Conditional/Classified Stakes considered Handicap if Irish?

[to75ne]

no but in uk conditional stakes i think they are weight for age and use the same weight system as in pattern races, classifieds usually have to have had run 3 races or two races having won one, best look em up in the two respective racing bodies, BHA and RACING IRELAND.

[spreadbetting]

Conditional races aren't handicaps were the horse carries weight according to the offical handicap it's weight comes down to sex, age etc so the older horses carry more weight than younger ones, females less weight than males etc. Classified races are open to a set rating so for horses rated 0-80 but they also allow a higher band say 81-85 but they'd carry extra weight to 'handicap' them to the 80 rating. A horse rated 60 would carry the same as the horse rated 80 but one rated 85 carries more than the 80 rated one.

[to75ne]

Conditional races aren't handicaps were the horse carries weight according to the offical handicap it's weight comes down to sex, age etc so the older horses carry more weight than younger ones, females less weight than males etc. Classified races are open to a set rating so for horses rated 0-80 but they also allow a higher band say 81-85 but they'd carry extra weight to 'handicap' them to the 80 rating. A horse rated 60 would carry the same as the horse rated 80 but one rated 85 carries more than the 80 rated one.

clarity - excellent, i am glad i dont like flat racing or follow much, jumps is a lot simpler/straight forward.

[Aitch]

Thanks, so these are more like "Semi-Handicaps" as opposed to Non-Handicaps?
Is there a webpage which shows all the varieties of races - all the ones I've looked at make things complicated instead of simpler!

So are all Jump races straight forward Non-Handicaps?

[TraderFred]

Here you go, H.

There are two main codes of horse racing, flat and jumps.

Jumps / national hunt.

There are 3 main categories of jumps racing. Chase, hurdles and NHF ( National hunt flat , also known as bumpers. )

Jumps horses who have not ran on the flat mainly start off in NHF races then progress into hurdles races. There are no NHF handicaps.

Hurdle and chase races are mainly divided into handicaps, and non handicaps. Handicaps go up in value according to a horses rating. They are often banded by rating . I.e a 0-100 handicap hurdle is for horses rated up to 100. A 0-140 handicap hurdle is for horses rated up to 140 and so on.

The top class jumps races are called graded races. For example the Cheltenham gold cup is a grade one, non hcap. Though graded races, can still be handicaps too, the grand national for example is a grade 3 handicap.

Then in hurdles you have novice and maiden races. These are usually non handicaps. Novice races often for horses progressing from either the flat or bumpers into hurdles. There are sometimes restrictions , ie for national hunt horses only, or for mares only etc to these races.

In chases you have novice chases, or beginner chases. These are usually for horses progressing to chasing from hurdling.

You also get selling and claiming races for hurdlers and sometimes chasers too, they are usually low grade non handicaps. However, you can get a selling handicap.


Flat.

Flat racing is mainly split by age. 2 yo (juveniles), 3yo (classic generation) and 4yo+ (older horses).

Again, they are mainly split into handicaps and non handicaps.

You used to need three runs to qualify for a handicap mark, though this has changed to two during Covid. You also get a mark if you win. They are split the same way, by ratings. 0-50, 0-80, 0-100 etc.

2 yo handicaps are called nurseries. Other 2 yo races are mainly maidens ( for horses who have never won) or novice stakes/ conditions races. These are non hcaps, and the weights etc are usually determined by the race conditions. Ie winners carry a penalty, fillies get an allowance etc etc.

High class flat races are called group races. Group one being the highest ( derby, guineas etc ) then group 2, 3 then listed. Some listed races can also be handicaps.

You get sellers/ Claimers at all age groups on the flat, you can get selling handicaps and maiden handicaps too.

You can also get condition stakes races at all ages which are not handicaps. They may have conditions like “for horses who haven’t won a group race in the last year” or “for horses rated 0-55”.


There are lots and lots of caveats, crossovers and different race types, some of which probably haven’t been covered above. If you are unsure, the best way to find out is to go to racingpost.com , find the race, and read the race title. It will tell you there what the race is, what the conditions are, and who it is for.

[Aitch]

Thanks!

So by reading the name of the race - it is a Handicap race:

- if it has "Handicap" in the title (obviously!)
- if it has "Nursery" in the title - as they are always 2 year old Handicaps?
- if it has "Rated Stakes" in the title - as opposed to any other Stakes?

Therefore any races without these words in the title are Non-Handicap - is this correct?