Do Your Homework

A free course in horse-race handicapping, by Mr. World Pool.

16 chapters, 80 quiz questions and real racecards. Learn to read the form, build your own probability line and know when to pass. A free course by Mr. World Pool.

Chapters

1. Welcome — What This Is — A course for people who want to understand the race.
2. The Rating — A Common Measure — Start with ability; leave room for today's horse to be different.
3. Handicapping — From a Figure to a Race Opinion — A repeatable process, with room for judgement.
4. The Horse — Suitability and Readiness — A past figure belongs to a physical animal.
5. Trainers — Preparation and Intent — Compare today's choices with the stable's usual work.
6. Data Literacy — How Much Should You Believe? — Use statistics to improve a decision, not decorate one.
7. Draw and Track — The Route Matters — Today's conditions include the ground the horse must cover.
8. Pace — Reading the Race Shape — Think in possible races, not a single predicted replay.
9. Jockeys — Skill, Fit and the Meaning of a Booking — A rider is both a participant and a possible source of information.
10. Breeding — A Starting Expectation — Pedigree is most useful where direct evidence is thin.
11. Machine Learning — Use the Baseline Properly — A consistent estimate is useful even when it needs questioning.
12. Pricing — What Chance, at What Odds? — Finish the assessment before choosing the bet.
13. Betting — From a View to a Ticket — Buy only the outcomes you have assessed, within a fixed risk budget.
14. Psychology — Keep the Original Decision — The result is memorable; the reasoning needs a record.
15. Discipline — Bankroll and Bet Tracking — Make the uncertainty visible before it becomes a financial problem.
16. Put It Together — Your First Complete Race — Choose a race, preserve your view and learn from what follows.