| Form cycles aren't followed as much in horse racing | | | | Each horse is an individual and will mature and come |
| as they once were because horse racing has | | | | into form at a slightly different rate. The training |
| changed, but they are still important and can help you | | | | habits of the conditioner will also affect how the |
| to improve your success rate and to avoid bad | | | | animal comes into form. Therefore, knowing how a |
| wagers. Years ago a race track would have a season | | | | trainer conditions his or her horses will help you to |
| and the horses and trainers would show up, race | | | | follow the workouts and races to understand when |
| through the season and many would take the rest of | | | | the trainer feels the animal is ready to win. Here is |
| the year off. Horses that started racing in the spring | | | | why that is so important, a good trainer doesn't try |
| would race through the fall and then take a much | | | | to win every race with his or her horses. |
| needed break. Some of the better ones might be | | | | Knowing that it takes time to get into good physical |
| shipped to another track, but that was the | | | | condition and to have what it takes to win a race, |
| exception. | | | | many conditioners will work and race a runner into |
| Now things have changed. Some race tracks race all | | | | shape and then, when the conditions are right, will tell |
| year round and others are part of a circuit in which | | | | the jockey to go for the win. How many times do |
| horses and trainers move from track to track. While | | | | you suppose you have bet on a horse whose jockey |
| they often give a horse a break from time to time, | | | | hadn't been given the instruction to win? In fact, you |
| there is less thought given to the actual seasons and | | | | have probably wagered many times on horses who |
| how they might affect the animals. | | | | were only in a race for training or conditioning |
| Horses are animals and therefore are affected by | | | | purposes. |
| the seasons and changes in weather. Like all living | | | | Understanding the form cycle and using a good |
| things they bloom and begin to flourish in the spring. | | | | toteboard system that spots the stable's money on |
| By mid summer they are in full bloom and by fall | | | | their horse will help you to avoid wasted bets and |
| have reached their peak. The old phrase, "mid season | | | | also to know when the horse is ready to win and |
| form," applies to horses and how they are at their | | | | when to wager on it. |
| best in mid season. | | | | |