How to spot a winning horse
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Date Posted:
July-27-2010 16:28
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The canny punter’s guide to sussing out horseflesh in the paddock.
1. No sweat
Although it’s in some horses’ nature to sweat, ideally they shouldn’t be sweating in the ring. Sweat shows itself as a lathery white residue, mainly on the neck, between the legs and under the saddle.
2. Tight/small gut
A human athlete who looks malnourished or has a belly on them would concern you, and the same counts for horses. You never want to see a horse with too much of a middle on it, or indeed one that looks underweight. The former is shown by a hangover of belly underneath the saddle straps; the latter shows when you can see a rib.
3. Big hooves
Horses with big hooves tend to be much more effective on soft ground: the weight spreads more evenly so the horse sinks into the ground less than its smaller-hooved rivals. It’s science, yeah? Those with small hooves, however, tend to travel better on fast ground, as they suffer less of a concussion from the stride.
4. Muscled up
A big backside means a big engine. This doesn’t mean the horse will be faster but muscle definition is never a hindrance, so look for a solid second thigh (butt cheek).
5. Shiny coat
A horse that is outwardly healthy is inwardly healthy, so favour those with coats that really shine over those who have slightly woolly or less vibrant examples.
6. Fear the semi
A horse that is composed in the paddock tends to run better. Steer clear of a colt that has his mind on other runners. Like, in a sexy way. How will you know? It’s pretty noticeable…
Find out how to win a share in a race horse trained by David Hayes with Johnnie Walker, here
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