Performance Cycles Edit Content

Welcome To TrackMaster Performance Cycles

TrackMaster Performance Cycles provides a clear, concise, graphic look at a horse's performances, as well as supplying insights regarding how well the horse should perform today. If you're used to other "sheets" type products, you'll love this!

The twelve-month and four-year graphs give a quick and easy-to-use visual format, which greatly aids handicappers in assessing a horse's winning chances versus today's field. The convenient cover sheet is an added bonus to use as a quick reference source. Some of the unique data points found in TrackMaster Performance Cycles are highlighted below.

The files come in PDF format, easily viewed and/or printed from your desktop, laptop, tablet computer or other device. They are available for download 24 hours a day, often several days ahead of the races depending on the track schedule.

Special Features Of TrackMaster Performance Cycles

PERFORMANCE RATINGS

The performance ratings are calculated using a complex algorithm, which incorporates final time, pace and class to rate a horse's past efforts. These ratings are then plotted on the twelve-month and four-year graphs to be utilized for effective analysis. The lower the rating the better, so the best rating a horse can earn is a zero while the worst possible rating is a 50. Races where ratings can't be determined will be marked with an X.

PERFORMANCE RATINGS PAR

This number is a gauge as to the performance rating that will be needed to win today's race. The number is normally based on the efforts of today's field over the last six months. In races with lightly raced horses or many first time starters, the number is based on races of today's type and class at today's track over the last two years.

TWELVE MONTH GRAPH

This graph provides a view of the cycle of a horse's Performance Ratings over the last twelve months. A horse's performance ratings are plotted with the better (lower) ratings at the top of the graph. The top row of this graph is determined by the best Performance Rating earned in the last twelve months by any horse in today's race. This makes it easy to see how a horse's ratings stack up versus the rest of the field when viewing the graph.

FOUR YEAR GRAPH

Similar to the twelve-month graph, except that the data is provided for the last four years and symbols are used to plot the ratings rather than the numbers themselves. Also, the range of the graph is determined by the best and worst ratings a horse has earned over the last four years. This makes it easy to see how the horse is performing now versus the rest of his career.

COMPOSITE RATINGS

Each horse's composite ratings (total of four) can be found on the cover sheet and above the abbreviated past performances for the horse. The rank of each horse in each category is listed in parenthesis after the ratings found above the PPs. The ratings are as follows:

PROJECTED PERFORMANCE RATING (Proj PR) - This is the expected rating the horse will produce today. A complex algorithm is used to determine this number. Cycle patterns, composite ratings, today's pace scenario, ratings consistency and positive jockey influence are all factored into this highly effective rating. An up arrow symbol will appear after this rating if there is room for improvement. A down arrow suggests a possible downside. A question mark signifies a particularly uncertain rating, such as the horse being idle for more than six months, not running in a race at today's distance and surface in the last twelve months, etc.

GOOD PERFORMANCE RATING (Good PR) - The average of a horse's two most recent good races. (A good race must have occurred in the last six months to qualify. If only one race qualifies, the rating of that race is used.) A good race for Thoroughbreds is a race in which a horse has an official finish of first, second, or third, or otherwise a finish within two lengths of the winner in a sprint, or in routes, a finish within three lengths of the winner. For Quarter Horse races, a race in which a horse has an official finish of first, second, or third, or otherwise in races less than or equal to 440 yards, a finish within one length of the winner, or in races longer than 440 yards, a finish within two lengths of the winner.

BEST PERFORMANCE RATING (Best PR) - The best performance rating earned at today's distance and surface on the twelve-month graph.

LAST PERFORMANCE RATING (Last PR) - The most recent performance rating earned by the horse regardless of distance and surface.

RUNNING STYLE (THOROUGHBREDS)

Front-runner: Usually on the early lead.
Alternator: No particular style. Assigned based on recent races.
Stalker: Normally sits just off of the front-runners in the early stages of the race.
Trailer: Usually near the back of the pack in the early going.
Unknown: Not known, usually because the horse is a foreign horse or a first time starter.

BREAK STYLE (QUARTER HORSES)

Fast: Usually gets out of the gate quickly.
Average: Normally breaks with the rest of the field.
Slow: Usually slow from the gate.
Trouble-prone: Tends to get into trouble in many of its races.
Unknown: Not known, usually because the horse is a foreign horse or a first time starter.