Past Performances (PPs) are the backbone of modern horse race handicapping. They’re the closest thing bettors have to a horse’s résumé—an organized, data‑rich record of everything a horse has done on the racetrack. When you know how to read them, PPs reveal patterns, strengths, weaknesses, and hidden opportunities that casual bettors miss.
Among all PP formats, Brisnet’s Ultimate Past Performances with QuickPlay Comments stand out for their depth, structure, and handicapping‑friendly metrics.This guide breaks down exactly what PPs are, where to get them, and how to read every major section.
PPs allow handicappers to evaluate form cycles, pace scenarios, class levels, and suitability for today’s conditions.
🏇 What Are Past Performances?
A Past Performance is a detailed statistical history of a racehorse’s previous races. Each line represents one race and includes:
- Race date and track
- Distance and surface
- Fractional times
- Speed and pace figures
- Running positions
- Jockey, odds, and finish
- Comments describing the trip
PPs allow handicappers to evaluate form cycles, pace scenarios, class levels, and suitability for today’s conditions.
📥 Where Do You Get Past Performances?
Major sources include:
- Brisnet.com – Ultimate PPs, Premium PPs, and data files
- Equibase – Standardized PPs and charts
- Daily Racing Form (DRF) – Formulator and Classic PPs
- Track programs – Simplified versions for on‑track bettors
For deep analysis, Brisnet Ultimate PPs w/ QuickPlay Comments are among the most comprehensive.
🧭 How to Read Brisnet Ultimate PPs
Brisnet organizes each race into structured sections. Let’s walk through them using your Fair Grounds example.
🏁 1. Track & Race Information
This appears at the top of the sheet and includes:
Race Type & Conditions
Race Type & Conditions form the foundation of every horse race. They determine who can enter, how strong the field will be, and what kind of performance is required to win. Understanding them is essential for handicapping because they reveal the true class level of the race and the intent behind each horse’s placement.
Link: A Guide to Horse Racing Types and Conditions
Distance & Surface
Distance and surface are two of the most influential—and often underestimated—factors in handicapping. They shape pace, stamina demands, running‑style advantages, trainer intent, and even which horses are eligible for certain conditions. When you understand how distance and surface interact, you start seeing races the way trainers and racing secretaries do.
Link: Distance & Surface: The Architecture of How a Race Will Be Run
Purse
Link: Show Me The Money: A Guide to Purses in Horse Racing
Bet Types
Modern horse racing offers a wide range of bet types, from simple “pick the winner” wagers to complex multi‑race strategies that require deep handicapping skill. Each bet type rewards a different approach, and the most successful bettors tailor their strategy to the structure of the wager.
Link: Wanna Bet? Wagering Choices in Horse Racing
Pars
Pars are one of the most powerful—but often overlooked—tools in a past performance. They act as a baseline, a context setter, and a class benchmark that helps you understand what kind of performance is typically required to win a race at today’s level. When you know how to use pars correctly, you stop handicapping in a vacuum and start handicapping with a calibrated measuring stick.
Link: Pars For The Course
🐎 2. Individual Entries
Each horse gets a detailed block of information. Here’s how to read it.
A. Horse Information
Includes:
- Name
- Running Style (E, E/P, P, S)
- E = Early (front‑runner)
- E/P = Early/Presser
- P = Presser
- S = Sustained (closer)
- Run Style Points (0–8)
- Color, sex, age
- Purchase price (if applicable)
- Prime Power rating
- Lifetime record
- Earnings
- Best speed figures by surface (FST, OFF, DIS, TRF, AW)
The header section for each horse in a past performance is deceptively dense. It looks simple at first glance—just a few lines of text above the past‑performance lines—but it actually contains some of the most important handicapping information in the entire sheet. This is where you learn who the horse is, how they typically run, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and how they fit today’s race.
Link: The Horse’s 411
B. Ownership, Pedigree & Breeding
Includes:
- Owner
- Sire & Dam
- Sire’s stud fee
- Breeder
- Sire stats (AWD, mud %, SPI)
- Dam’s sire stats
These help evaluate pedigree suitability for:
- Distance
- Surface
- Muddy tracks
- Class potential
C. Jockey & Trainer Stats
Brisnet breaks these down into:
- Overall win %
- In last 60 days
- With this running style
- With this trainer
- In routes
- Off layoffs
- Turf‑to‑dirt or dirt‑to‑turf moves
Example: Jockey with E‑types: 16% wins, +0.47 ROI
These stats help identify positive or negative rider/trainer patterns.
D. QuickPlay Comments
Short, handicapping‑oriented notes such as:
- “Figures to improve returning to dirt”
- “Hot jockey last 7 days”
- “Eligible to improve 3rd off layoff”
These highlight angles that matter.
📊 3. Past Performance Lines
The previous race section—the long horizontal lines of data showing each horse’s past performances—is the engine room of handicapping. Everything you need to understand a horse’s form, class, pace, trip, and suitability for today’s race is encoded in these lines. Once you know how to read them, you can interpret a horse’s entire career at a glance.
Key Columns Explained
| Column | Meaning |
|---|---|
| DATE / TRK | When and where the race was run |
| DIST / SURFACE | Distance and surface (ft, fm, sf, my) |
| RR | Race Rating (strength of field) |
| RACETYPE | Allowance, stakes, maiden, claiming |
| CR | Class Rating |
| E1 / E2 / LP | Pace figures (early, mid, late) |
| 1c / 2c | Beaten lengths at first and second call |
| SPD | Final speed figure |
| PP | Post position |
| ST | Start position |
| 1C / 2C / STR / FIN | Running positions |
| JOCKEY | Rider |
| Medication | L (Lasix), b (blinkers) |
| ODDS | Final betting odds |
| Top Finishers | Winner and key rivals |
| Comments | Trip notes (e.g., “3‑wide bid; outkicked”) |
| Field size | Number of runners |
These lines allow you to evaluate:
- Form cycles
- Pace preferences
- Class changes
- Surface/distance suitability
- Trouble trips
- Improvement patterns
Link: Been There Done That: Reading Previous Races
🏋️ 4. Training (Workouts) Section
The workouts section of a past performance is one of the most revealing—and misunderstood—parts of handicapping. While speed figures and class levels tell you what a horse has done, workouts help you understand what a horse is ready to do today. They offer a window into fitness, form cycles, trainer intent, and even hidden improvements that don’t show up in race lines. Each workout includes:
- Date
- Track
- Distance
- Surface condition
- Time
- Breezing/Handily (B/H)
- Rank vs. others that day
Example: 30Jan FG 5f ft 1:00.3 B (8/43)
This tells you:
- 5 furlongs
- Fast track
- Breezing
- 8th fastest of 43 workers
Link: Workouts: Getting in Race Shape
📈 5. Racetype Stats & Track Bias Stats
Racetype Stats and Track Bias Stats are two of the most valuable “context layers” in modern handicapping. They don’t describe the horses themselves—they describe the environment in which the horses must perform. When you understand these stats, you stop handicapping in isolation and start handicapping with a full picture of how the race is likely to unfold.
Race Type Stats
- Win %
- Favorite ITM %
- ROI
- Median win payoff
- Field size
Track Bias Stats
Breakdowns by:
- Running style (E, E/P, P, S)
- Post position
- Wire‑to‑wire %
- Impact values
Link: Racetype Stats & Track Bias Stats
🧮 6. Race Summary Metrics
Brisnet compiles key handicapping numbers:
- Speed Last Race
- Back Speed
- Current Class
- Average Class Last 3
- Prime Power
- Early Pace Last Race
- Late Pace Last Race
These allow quick comparison across the field.
Example:
- Paris Lily tops Speed Last Race (95), Prime Power (132.2), and Class Rating (116.3).
- Amalfi Drive leads Best Speed at Distance (90).
- Amarth shows strong mid‑pace and competitive class.
🏆 Final Thoughts: Why Past Performances Matter
Past Performances are the most powerful handicapping tool available. When you understand:
- Race conditions
- Pace dynamics
- Class levels
- Form cycles
- Pedigree
- Track biases
- Speed and pace figures
…you gain a massive edge over casual bettors.
Brisnet’s Ultimate PPs with QuickPlay Comments combine raw data with expert‑level insights, making them ideal for both beginners and advanced handicappers.
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