For all of the sun and fun rolled into summertime racing, the fall/winter racing season in the northeast occasionally brings inclement weather.

Unlike baseball, Horse Racing usually goes on before, during, and after a rain/snow storm and there are some general handicapping concepts that you should keep on hand for… a rainy day.

First off, keep in mind that racetracks can be like apples and oranges.  A muddy track at Laurel Park can be different than a muddy circuit around Aqueduct.

So a racehorse’s off-track form may not necessarily transfer from one track to another.

That doesn’t mean a Winner by five lengths in the mud at Laurel can’t cruise to a Victory on a sloppy day at Aqueduct, but for the most part, you can generally bet with more confidence if a horse shows a prior strong wet track effort on the racetrack they are running at that day.

As much as some people do not like to bet on rainy days, horses that enter a turf race as Main-Track-Only starters and get a chance to run are usually solid wagering opportunities.

Just don’t bet blindly.  As much as being a MTO indicates the trainer wants to run them on the main track, races taken off the turf are not always run on a wet track, so make sure that MTO runner is suited by a sloppy or fast track, whichever applies.

Another problem involves what to do when a horse runs on a sloppy dirt track or a yielding turf course.  Again, there’s no guarantee that a horse who Wins on muddy track will turn around and be Victorious on a dry track.

To solve that riddle, look at the horse’s last few races prior to that wet track performance and patchwork them together. 

If a horse put in a few good efforts before the wet track race and then raced well in mud, it’s logical to figure that he is versatile enough to run well on any type of surface. 

If he was running well, but then disappointed in the mud, you can expect a bounce-back effort on a dry track.

Conversely, if a horse was struggling on a dry surface, but perked up with a Win in the mud, it would be wise to bet against him when he’s back on a dry track, especially if the Win in the mud sparks low odds or an odds-on price on the dry track.

The Daily Racing Blog had a very successful afternoon one stormy day at Saratoga a few years back.  So don’t ever throw in the towel on wagering at a track that’s listed as Sloppy.

The bottom line?

Wet tracks can create confusion for handicappers.  But as long as you do your homework with a critical eye, you can bring some sunshine (and cash) into your life on a rainy day.