How Ratings and Weights Interact in Horse Racing
In UK and Irish horse racing, particularly in handicap races, weights are carefully assigned based on official ratings (OR). The aim is to level the playing field: horses with higher ability are asked to carry more weight than lower-rated rivals.
What is the Official Rating (OR)?
It’s a number given to each horse that represents its ability. A higher number means a better horse. In handicaps, the better the horse, the more weight it carries.
How This Tool Helps
You input each horse’s last run OR and weight, and their current OR and weight. The tool calculates what we call "Ideal Weight": what they’d carry now if the weight changed exactly in line with rating change.
It helps you spot:
- Horses carrying more weight than expected ("worse off")
- Horses carrying less than expected ("well in")
Important: It’s Not a Predictor
This doesn’t mean one horse will beat another. Heavier weights often go to better horses. This is just a tool to spot handicapping changes, not to tip winners.
Try It Yourself
Use this tool on big handicaps or when comparing stablemates. It’s a great way to understand what the handicapper is doing — but always add context like form, ground, and trip.