Often, you’ll hear trainers or turf writers referring to a big race as a “key race” in a horse’s preparation for some other race. What they usually mean is that the race was essential to the trainer’s plan for that horse, a race that meant a lot for the horse’s development. But when you hear handicappers and horseplayers using the term “key race,” they usually mean something entirely different. What they’re talking about is an angle you can use to pick overlooked horses and hopefully hit the next race for a decent price.
