I think that in America, we tend to use figs more than horsemanship in handicapping. That\'s probably due to our tracks being dirt and rather similar - it\'s easier. Few handicappers in America bother to watch race replays, for example. They get all their information off a sheet. Not by horsemanship.
To handicap on a variety of grass tracks, different shapes, uphill and down, from a good 3 to a 10, takes knowing what a particular horse prefers, the horses\' running style, etc (you may throw out a very good horse on an 8 if he\'s only won on 5-6\'s, for example) There are a lot more variables, and you have to know a bit of horsemanship regarding equipment changes, how conformation plays into specific course requirements, etc.
That\'s why some American handicappers have so much trouble with artificial surfaces, I think - if you approach them as you\'d approach handicapping overseas, it\'s not difficult at all. If you don\'t handicap that way, it is. Just not your skill set.
That\'s why American handicappers are often lost in European and Australian racing.
Most American handicappers know how to handicap for one type of racing: American speed dirt racing, which lends it\'s to figure calculations very well. So that\'s what they depend upon to tell them how \"good\" a performance was. They don\'t use their eyes.
Anyway: Frankel is as outstanding a horse as Secretariat was. Enjoy.
