No check, we drop in class

[Foalin at 4]

How often do you think trainers put their horse on hold so they can drop in class next week? It happens a lot more often than anyone realizes. Also win the open a couple times, and you better be on hold or you're told to leave. I hate betting a dead horse!

[JENNY FROM THE BLOCK]

Probably happens multiple times a night.  Multiple times in a race sometimes.
Trainers tell driver don't pull. Just go around there twice. Hands them a 20 or 50.  And says I'll put you back down next week when we draw better and he is ready.  Happens all the time. 

[Parked]

If you race 1/2 mile tracks you will get “ easy” races when you draw 7 or 8 hole.

[Brkn Headpole]

How often do you think trainers put their horse on hold so they can drop in class next week? It happens a lot more often than anyone realizes. Also win the open a couple times, and you better be on hold or you're told to leave. I hate betting a dead horse!

Look for the horse dropping a win or 2nd off the bottom of their card so they can drop into an easier condition. Lots of trainers play the money won game for conditions.

[Brown jug]

all the time
 great handicapping angle , when you see a horse with a win or second 4 or 5 lines down that are going to get dropped off thats a watch and wait for next week on the drop

[Grandstand Handicapper]

While this absolutely happens, there are too many generalizations. First, what track are we talking about? How are the conditions structured and formatted there? Second, there are horses in every race that are simply not competitive, and if the bottom of their card will drop off a win, money, etc., with a no-check race---and they can drop in class---sure, it's part of managing the condition sheet and managing the horse. It's being able to maximize your ROI. Some people say cheating, some people say asset management. I get the point that this is "stiffing" a horse/race, but it's part of how this business works. Argue away. Right or wrong, it's part of the business and how you not only maximize ROI, and maximize the horse and their performance, but part of it is also how you "protect" the horse, the horse's health and well-being, etc., as well.

Third, sometimes if a race or money drops off a horse's card, it helps to get that horse into more races where he/she will be competitive. Stiff job? Whatever. Take this discussion into the context of elimination races. Top 3 or top 4, maybe even top 5, qualify for the final. I know this is a heated discussion, but it is simply a given that you have to factor into your betting, and if you don't like it, don't play the race! There's 9, 10, or 11 more races, and there's always another day. That's why pro's don't think they are missing anything when they skip a race.

Anyway, interesting discussion.

[Arrive7100]

Back at either Brandywine or Liberty Bell there was this horse Landis Hanover, driven by one of the Filion's, not Herve. He used to run in winners over $15,000, would be competitive but never won. After 6 starts he was able to drop into non winners of $15,000 in last 6 starts and won almost every time because the race was so much easier.

[MCR]

How often do you think trainers put their horse on hold so they can drop in class next week? It happens a lot more often than anyone realizes. Also win the open a couple times, and you better be on hold or you're told to leave. I hate betting a dead horse!

It's called horse management.  You have to pick your spots. You can't gut a horse every week.

[pocketrocketwinner]

How has this accepted strategy been working for the industry?

Handle is at all time low levels, caw money is at all time high levels everything is 100% dependent on subsidized funding from casinos and inching closer to extinction. But hey, it's the way the business works so carry on

[Foalin at 4]

The tracks I'm talking about are all 1/2 mile tracks, Saratoga, Batavia. I'm a chalk bettor, so most horses figure to be competitive, but a open horse wins 3 in a row, is handicapped the outside, bet down to 3/5 and should win...... but is not competitive. I was later told the race secretary told the trainer win again and you're gone. This is one of racings big issues! I bet only hundred dollar tickets, and only win tickets, I have to win at a 75% rate to have any ROI. I hate when my 1/2 horse goes to 1/9 at the 1/4 pole, I've also found out it's better to bet 2 minutes prior to the gate rolling.   JUST MY TAKE ON IT!

[MCR]

If my horses aren't 1st or 2nd they are dropping until they can be! Obviously bad post etc factor in