condition book

Question
QUESTION: In the condition book please explain this race.

For cal breds or cal sired fillies and mares three

years old and upward which have never won 10,000

other than claiming, maiden , or starter or which

have never won two races or claiminf price $25,000



ANSWER: Hi Nick:

Thanks for your question.  The statement contains the rules under which an owner or a trainer can enter a horse for this race - "It is for fillies and mares born in the State of California or for fillies and mares that were sired in the State of California that are at least 3 years old or older who have never won $10,000 other in a claiming, maiden or starter race, or which have never won two races for a claiming price of $25,000".  Any horse in this race can be claimed for $25,000.  Remember all Thoroughbreds, regardless of their actual date of birth, are given an official birthday of January 1st to keep the age groups easily defined for race conditions. They must be registered with the Jockey Club within a year of their actual date of birth and must be DNA typed to prove their parentage.

The race to which you are referring is strictly a straight-out claiming race and all of the rules tend to make the runners equal in the Racing Secretary's eyes - it then becomes the handicapper's job to figure out which horse has the best chance of winning by reviewing it's past performances from the racing form and taking into consideration the horse, jockey and trainer past statistics, along with the weight allowance and trip remarks.

I hope this helps in understanding the race and participants.

If you are happy with my answer, please take a minute and rate me.

Thanks in advance,

Jim Johnson

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I wasnt sure there was an option on this race that you could but you didnt have to enter your horse for the 25,000 price tag because they do have races where it is optional/correct? this race is the 20th of dec at hollywood park

Answer
Hi again Nick:

Thanks again for your question - I'll try to give you a definition of pure claiming races and then an explanation of optional claiming races.  

Claiming races are the most commonly run races in the United States.  Horses competing in claiming races are offered for sale for a specified price tag to eligible buyers (different tracks have different rules about who is eligible to claim# and they can put the amount of the claim into an account with the horseman's bookkeeper and claim #buy) your horse. Any purse money in the race goes to the original owner of the horse.  You can visit most racetrack websites, and click on the horseman's tab, then click on condition book to see an actual book with all of the racing conditions for a given period.  That might help clear things up for you.

There are also Optional Claiming Races - this race type is quite involved and incorporates features of starter allowance and claiming races. Horses competing in this type of race can either compete as a claimer, or as a starter allowance horse, with no claiming price. Those competing in this race that are not eligible to be claimed must have competed at or below the claiming level specified, and have not won a race at the specified claiming or higher since last competing at the specified claiming level or a lower claiming price.

Claiming can be a risky business, since you don't get to let the vet look at the horse prior to putting in a claim, and the horse actually belongs to you the minute the gates open, so if anything happens to the horse, you still lose the money. Also, many times the previous trainer knows any quirks that the horse has, and it can take a new trainer quite some time to figure out a new horse. Claiming is a way to keep people honest by allowing the cheaper horses to compete on an equal basis.

I hope this clears up your question - if it does, please give me a rating.

Again, thanks for your question.

Jim Johnson