Handicap

All horses carry weights based on their ability which is assessed by the official handicapper. The horse with the highest handicap rating carries the most weight with all other horses carrying weight relative to their individual handicap rating. The idea being that this handicapping system means that all horses theoretically have an equal chance of winning. Many handicap races are limited to horses of a particular rating. For example a race may be restricted to horses rated between 95 and 110 and is often called a Rated Stakes.