What Is An Allowance Race?

I was recently doing some research on claiming races and came across something called an ‘allowance race’ which is apparently the next step up from claiming races.

This got me wondering what this meant, and I’m going to share with you what I found!

So, what is an allowance race?

Allowance races are often considered the next step up from claiming races. An allowance race is similar to a claiming race, in that weights are attached to the racehorses and they are run on the Flat. However, these vary in weight depending on the horse’s age and sex, and the horses are not for sale either.

In this article we’ll look at allowance races in more detail, exploring what an allowance actually is, what an allowance race involves, what horses can run in them, some of the set rules for racing as well as how they differ from handicap races.

So, let’s get to answering these questions!

What is an allowance in horse racing?

Firstly, this section will briefly define the term ‘allowance’ to make sure the term is fully explained before discussing the topic of allowance racing in more detail.

Allowances are essentially adjustments in terms of the weight that a horse is allowed to carry during a race.

Allowances can be adjusted based on if the horse is female, because of their age (e.g., a 4-year-old versus a 5-year-old), or if an apprentice jockey is competing.

How does an allowance race work?

Allowance races work in a similar way to claiming races and handicap races, as weights are added to the horse’s saddle to slightly challenge them.

They are run on the Flat, which is a level field, usually with grassy terrain.

There are various conditions within the race that mean the weights each horse carries can differ.

For example, if the jockey is less experienced than others (an amateur), they will start the race with less weight on their horse.

Weight is also dependant on the sex of the horse as if the horse is female then it will also receive less weight at the beginning of the race.

This is where the name ‘allowance’ comes from as disadvantaged horses are given an allowance in the race to remove weight in order to make the race more even among competitors.

This process works to ensure that no horses or jockeys are given a significant competitive advantage over others in the race.

Because of the above-mentioned reasons, allowance races are often a big odds bet for betters because some horses are better able to overcome the standard allowances set in these races than others, making it an exciting race.

What horses can run in an allowance race?

Due to the differing variables and conditions involved in allowance racing, you might be wondering what horses can run in an allowance race?

The answer to this question is that the requirements can vary per individual event.

However, generally speaking, horses should be aged 4 and older, and no older than 7.

Horses should be at least 4 years old to compete because the races are highly competitive and require some previous racing experience, as well as the strength of an adult horse, which they are at this age.

Both sexes can compete, with female horses being given an allowance over males.

Allowance races also usually involve horses who have broken their maiden status (won at least one race) but who are not quite ready to compete in stakes or high stakes races (top level racing).

The various allowances given to horses based on these factors will be discussed below!

What are the rules of allowance races?

As we mentioned previously, the weight the horses carry can depend on their age.

An example of how this works is that a 4-year-old horse may carry around 10 stone 13lbs, whereas a 5-year-old horse (or older) can carry up to 11 stone 10lbs.

This is because horse’s strength increases with age, and just one year can make the world of difference in terms of their strength and racing ability, however they are considered mature after age 5.

As mentioned, weight can also vary depending on the sex of the horse.

A female horse will receive a much lower weight than its male counterpart.

However, allowances can also vary depending on age differences within the same sex – for example fillies (young female horses) are given a 7lb allowance over mares (mature female horses).

What is the difference between an allowance race and a handicap race?

Handicap races are extremely similar to allowance races, and they are often confused because of this.

A handicap race also uses weights as a method of evening the playing field among competitors and takes weight off the horse’s saddle according to their individual ailments or needs.

The weight that is removed is very specific and calculated on an individual basis.

Whilst allowance races are very similar to handicap races in this respect, however, they take a far more broad approach to the removal of weight.

The general reasons for taking off weight depends on broad factors like age, sex and experience of the jockey and it is usually a set weight that is removed.

In conclusion, an allowance race is similar to both a handicap race and a claiming race – except the horses are given set allowances depending on a broader set of disadvantages, and they are not up to be claimed (bought).

We found that an allowance is essentially an adjustment that is granted to the weight carried by horses based on various factors such as their age, sex and experience of the jockey.

Allowances vary depending on the specific event they are running in as different tracks have slightly different rules for allowances that can be made.

Finally, allowance races differ only slightly from handicap races as allowances are determined based on a much broader set of rules, whereas handicaps are much more tailored to the individual horse.

I hope this article has been useful in informing you all about allowance races!