ADDING PHYSICALITY TO YOUR DAILY HANDICAPPING VIA THE RACETRACK FEED-----Part 5
4---THE READY HORSE by Joe Takach

Now that we’ve looked at the negative energy postures, we’ll flip the coin to the other side and view the “ready horse”.
In addition to acceptable muscling, color, tails, ears and correct walking which we’ll discuss in great detail later on, “ready horses” have high energy levels.
If your racetrack feed includes paddock views, the “ready horse” conducts himself like a winner from the first time you see him entering the paddock from the backside or receiving barn until he gets his picture taken in the winner’s circle. His domineering posture is hard to miss or ignore. There is no timidity or apprehension in his demeanor. He looks ready to roll!
If you can see the saddling area, take note that “ready horses” willingly accept their saddles. At times, they playfully and gently lunge forward when going under tack because they have a hard time containing themselves. Never confuse this playfulness with fractiousness. These postures are worlds apart.
A fractious horse continually fights its handlers because he doesn’t want a saddle on his back and he surely doesn’t want to compete in the upcoming race.
A “ready horse” is having a good time and wants to run. If he’s gently playing with his handlers, he isn’t wheeling or rearing up the second the saddle cloth and saddle hit his back. The “ready horse” isn’t charging forward dragging his groom along with him. He isn’t being abused by his trainer, nor shanked by his groom. His energy level is usually quite high, but he’s still fully tractable and responds to the wishes of his handlers.
His desire to run is hardly an annoyance to his groom or his trainer. They have both put in a lot of time and effort to get their steed in top condition and wouldn’t think of compromising his chances of winning by mistreating him in any manner. They are aware that even the slightest abuse can sour a “ready horse” in a heartbeat and turn him into an “also ran”. If they, along with their jockey, can keep him happy until he loads into the starting gate, he has every opportunity to run “his race” and hopefully get his picture taken in the winner’s circle.
When under tack, the “ready horse” might begin to get a bit more aggressive. This is quite normal and almost expected. It merely reflects his heightened awareness that “showtime” is right around the corner. When he’s led around the walking ring, he’s often up on his toes with his head angled in towards his groom. If he’s really wound up, he’ll be snorting quite loudly sending an intimidating signal to his competitors that the upcoming event is “his” race.
Every movement is measured and controlled. There are no erratic gestures of unwillingness as with the fractious loser. There is no random waste of energy that is needed for the upcoming race. He’s not washy, wet, or with excessive kidney sweat dripping down his rear legs. He’s calm cool and collected.
As the riders come out of the jockey’s room enroute to their mounts, you can sometimes catch their mental attitudes. If a jockey is on a “live” one, he’s most likely walking crisply and directly to his mount and not shooting the bull with the other riders. He’s all business and ready for any last minute instructions from the trainer. A sure sign of a “send” is when a jockey checks his saddle after shaking hands with the owners and speaking with the trainer.
Why would he check the saddle you ask?
He’s about to ask his mount for everything and wants to take no chances on saddle slippage of any kind. Many smart jockeys do this on every mount, but some don’t. I really love when a jockey actually stands up in the irons and gently rocks them side to side to make sure that they are good and tight. This is a great “nuance”. If not in your current nuance repertoire, do yourself a favor and add it!
The high energy level of the “ready horse” and his positive attitude continues thru the post parade. Even if your racetrack feed affords you only a “5 second glimpse”, our review of the paddock directly above should have you “tuned in and focused” on what you can see in those brief 5 or so seconds.
Keep in mind that 5 seconds is only 5 seconds and not the same as a leisurely 10 minute paddock stroll or a continuous paddock racetrack feed. It will take time and practice to grasp what you have to see in those short 5 seconds. You didn’t learn how to read the past performances in 5 seconds, so don’t expect to master visual inspection in 5 seconds.
Moving to the post parade for those brief 5 seconds with their lead ponies, look for runners that are nudging their lead pony along and/or are up on their toes.
Energy levels are impossible to hide even with no more than a 5 second glimpse and are great “tells” as to a runner’s disposition to his upcoming event. If he’s walking flatfooted and lifeless with little or no animation, that’s very likely the kind of performance that will follow once the starting gate opens.
If on the other hand he’s “alive” and walking with his head well above his shoulders or is up on his toes and is properly placed where he can win, at least you can be rest assured he’ll be competitive if not victorious.

PART 6-----Color

© Joe Takach 2007