Handicap (horse racing)

[1] Although most handicap races are run for older, less valuable horses with less prize money, this is not true in all cases; some prestigious races are handicaps, such as the Grand National steeplechase in England and the Melbourne Cup in Australia.

In a horse handicap race (sometimes just called "handicap"), each horse must carry a specified weight called the impost, assigned by the racing secretary or steward based on factors such as past performances, so as to equalize the chances of the competitors.

The weight-for-age scale was introduced by Admiral Rous, a steward of the Jockey Club.

[2] In Britain, the horses are assigned weights according to a centralised rating system maintained by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

In the USA, (thoroughbred) handicapping may also refer to the act of predicting and betting on horse racing.