Wind as a factor in hindering horse racing

Making money by betting on horse races and handicap races often requires you to think outside the box, so to speak. When looking at past offers, you’ll see the same information that many other people see. Although you may come to different conclusions than some people with disabilities, you often come to the same conclusion as many. The odds on the gear board will attest to each runner’s merits.

So how do you get an edge and make a living from horse racing? You must see more and do more. It’s not easy, but you must be committed. One thing to watch is the weather and especially the wind. Whether they are Thoroughbreds or Standard horses, weather plays a huge role in how each horse performs.

When you see a strong wind blowing up the stretch, it will tell you that it will be right in front of the horses in the lead, and those following will be able to gallop behind them with less effort. If it’s a tail that goes up the back and your horse will swing out and make a move then without a back flap, it will benefit your horse because it will push him or her. Does this sound crazy? Do you suspect that a thousand pounds of horsepower can be affected by the wind?

Keep this in mind, horse races are often won by inches. Pushing the twenty or thirty miles an hour wind against the horse all the way through the stretch has an effect on him. I have never raced horses but I have driven them to practice and can tell you from personal experience that strong winds slow them down and tire them out.

If you follow harness racing, you know that horses that race with cover, a horse directly in front of it, have more energy at the end of the race. This happens even on windy days now. Imagine how much impact it makes when there is a strong wind pushing against the horse in front. So if you’re at a racetrack, or even watching the races on a monitor, pay attention to the wind and use the information on your handicap.

If you’re trying to choose between two equally matched horses, give the advantage to whoever has the advantage in the wind, if it’s windy. Nature is a factor in horse racing because they are subject to the same laws of the natural world as all creatures. That slight edge that wind gains or loses can make all the difference. On a windy day, you might bet on closing or speeding early, depending on the wind. Call it wind siding.