Horse handicaps traditionally take on the form of lead weights that horses must carry for the duration of a race. In theory, these weights, in addition to the weight of the jockey, should slow a horse down, thereby successfully handicapping it for a particular race. These lead weights are positioned in the pockets of saddle pads before a race begins. The racing secretary evaluates each horse based on performance, distance and track record. He or she then assigns the handicap weights accordingly.

More recently, horse race handicapping has taken on a new meaning. Horseracing betting has given rise to thoroughbred handicapping, or the knack for predicting results of a horse race and earning from these predictions in the process. Thoroughbred handicappers base their guesses on information aggregated from various sources. Some of the most telling information about horses that handicappers consider are past performance details, outstanding records, total financial remuneration earned, and past odds. The more statistical data a handicapper has, the more informed his guesses are. Naturally, bettors are encouraged to listen to handicap experts who have been around for at least a few years.

Most handicappers publicize their handicap picks before a race in order to aid less knowledgeable bettors. Most often, this information is disseminated in the form of a list involving personalized symbols and codes. With online horseracing, betting enthusiasts are provided fast access to handicap lists such as those available at TVG.com’s dedicated handicap store. Take a stab at handicap betting online at TVG.com.

While there are many cautionary tales about horseplayers losing everything they have to a betting addiction, it can safely be said that these cases are the exception rather than the rule. Unique thrills and excitement await the would-be horseplayer if you approach betting in the right way.

Any horseracing betting aficionado will tell you that you must start by setting a limit to what you’re ready to spend on this sport. If extra cash is not readily available, put off starting horseplaying until that disposable income is constantly there. Major horserace betting sites like TVG.com advocate responsible wagering wholeheartedly, but the burden of making sure that bets are made responsibly falls squarely on bettors’ shoulders.

The next thing to keep in mind is that past performances are always telling. Visit TVG.com’s odds and results or online handicapping store pages to find out how the horses running in any given race and on any given track have done in their previous outings. The numbers one, two and three beside a horse’s listed name indicate that it has taken first, second or third places in recent races. Even better, a ‘C’ indicates that a horse has been successful at the course where the race is going to be held, and a ‘D’ means that the horse has won a race with the same distance as the upcoming one. A ‘CD’ means that the horse has made both of these achievements, and therefore is a solid one to bet on.

The horse’s connections, meaning its jockey, trainer and owner, can make a big difference as well. In-depth, up-to-date news and talk shows from the TVG Network’s lineup will help viewers find out who the best connections in the business are, and coverage of live and replayed races show without a doubt which horses are benefiting from these connections.

These and other informative features are all available at TVG.com. For complete horseracing betting sources and channels, TVG.com is anyone’s best bet.