Horses # days off betwen races

[JLG]

Hi.

Was looking for some opinions on How other people look at days off between races.

I normally don't like horses coming back with races within three weeks or less. I realize that some of the feeder tracks, this is quite normal at the lower claiming ranks, because it is the only way the horse can earn its hay.

I also think as more and more states ban steriods, that it will not be physically possible for horses to run 2 and 3 races within a 30 day period.

My question is, does anyone look for any patterns in days off or PPs to determine if a horse can run to that same level as their last race, that may have been 7 days ago?

Thanks
Jim

[Tim Y]

Using any yardstick of days off between races is today, with year round racing, a bit hollow. The stock racing all the time is a bit stale which can make up for the fitness factor. Also, you have no idea WHY there were days off or what the trainer was doing with the horse. Some are swimming them between works and it really keeps them fit.

There is no hard fast rule here.

Woody Stephens was found of saying that a good horse usually had three good ones in him before it needed a freshening.