Tip-of-the-Week from "Fast Horses": Guidelines for Betting Shippers

Research shows that “shippers” (racehorses from a different state now competing at a new track) are usually not good bets in their first race out of state. At all of the Quarter Horse tracks studied in Fast Horses, Fast Money, these animals had a very low win percentage in their first race at the new track.

We should avoid betting these horses unless they meet several of these restrictions:

1.     They are trained by a top trainer (15%-or-higher win percentage).

2.     They had a workout at the new track.

3.     They are being ridden by a top jockey (12%-or-higher win percentage) or the trainer’s favorite or first-call rider.

4.     They showed plenty of speed and class at their home track.

5.     They performed well at out-of-state tracks before.

6.     Their money-earned-per-race or number of lifetime wins is competitive with other animals in the race.

7.     They are well-bred, with a high-percentage breeder or owner

8.     They have been stabled at their new track for at least two weeks.

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