SPEED FIGURES AND CLASS RATINGS
TrackMaster combines the latest information and computer technology with a team of expert racing analysts to produce speed figures and class ratings.
If you would like to learn more about these powerful ratings and how to use them, view our informative TrackMaster Speed & Class Ratings Presentation video or continue reading below...
What exactly are speed figures and how are they calculated?
Speed figures measure how fast a horse races, using a complex formula to normalize race times across all tracks, distances and surfaces. The figure is based on the horse's actual finishing time along with other factors such as run up distance, rail distance and track condition (including wind when recorded). The higher the figure the better, with the fastest horses achieving in the 120s.
Speed figures are calculated in a basic three step process:
1) First, a raw figure is computed using the actual finishing time and a complex mathematical formula that incorporates many of the factors mentioned above.
2) This raw figure is adjusted by the appropriate Inter Track Variant (ITV) specific to a track, distance and surface that is determined by analyzing horses that have shipped to and from various tracks, distances and surfaces throughout the year.
3) It gets further adjusted by the Daily Track Variant (DTV) derived from a proprietary formula that computes the difference between the winning times and the par times for each racing day. There can be multiple DTVs on a given race card if underlying conditions change sufficiently during the day.
What exactly are class ratings and how are they calculated?
Just as a horse earns a speed figure for its performance in a race, the race itself also receives its own rating to measure the strength of the field. Each race gets assigned a class rating based on a projected finishing time, using the last six months worth of speed figures from the individual horses entered into the race to make the best possible prediction.
As an example, a typical $25,000 claiming race could have a class rating of 85 and then the next time it could be an 80 should a weaker set of horses compete, or a 90 if stronger horses get entered. The class rating is basically a projection of the expected winning speed figure for that particular race.
How can you use the speed figures and class ratings together?
Speed figures and class ratings are designed to be on the same scale and become extremely powerful when used together while handicapping, particularly when horses are moving in class or shipping to different tracks and it is not clear if the horse will be competitive in the race.
For example, since the class rating can be thought of as a par speed figure for a race, a horse that can run speed figures of 80 or better would have a great shot at winning any race with a class rating of 80. Look at a horse's recent speed ratings or an average of past ratings to compare against today's class rating. If the numbers aren't comparable you can feel confident eliminating that horse.
Where exactly do I get these speed figures & class ratings, and are they expensive?
Speed figures and class ratings are provided for every race in North America when available. You can find these remarkable numbers in virtually all TrackMaster products. Any product that includes past performances will display speed figures and class ratings on each running line. We also offer a variety of both beginner and advanced handicapping products with average speed figures and class ratings. Convenient and affordable pricing plans are available for all products.
SPEED FIGURES AND CLASS RATINGS - ENHANCEMENTS AND ADJUSTMENTS
In order to provide the most effective numbers, speed figures and class ratings are subject to change, including, but not limited for the following reasons:
• Update/correction to underlying data (i.e. time of race changed, reported beaten lengths changed)
• Upgrade in method used to determine the figures
• Periodic re-cast of the figures to improve the efficacy of the numbers due to the increased amount of data available after the original figures were computed
At TrackMaster, each year we perform a comprehensive quality check of our speed figures and class ratings. To ensure maximum efficacy of the ratings, TrackMaster goes back and recalculates and revises the ratings for the year.
Additionally, in our efforts to continually improve and refine our ratings, we've made the following enhancements to make them even more accurate:
Ratings For All
Previously, when there was not enough information for us to determine a speed figure or class rating using our standard methods we were forced to record an N/A (not available). These cases, where not enough data existed to reliably compute a rating, primarily occurred at county fair tracks, races at non-standard distances and races with very few past performances.
We continue to improve our secondary rating process to assure that every race gets a class rating and every horse that finishes with measured lengths back, a speed figure. This alternate method of class ratings does not rely solely on the speed figures of the horses in the race (as does our standard method), but uses other factors like age, earnings and other related statistics to determine the class. Similarly, the alternate speed figure method does not rely on the time of the race, but instead uses other factors including the history of the winner, class of the race and beaten lengths.
In the end, we believe these revisions and new methods of computing ratings makes our data more accurate when attempting to handicap and evaluate horses.
