How To Read TimeformUS (TFUS) Past Performances
Race information
Race information includes the track, date, time, wagers, etc. The elongated oval box is colored according to the track surface type. It includes the type of race, length, and race conditions. If the oval is green it was a turf race, if brown a dirt race, if blue a synthetic race. In order: age/purse of race; surface/type of race; distance/condition of surface (the number to the right of the surface condition shows on a scale of 1–10 how fast or firm a surface it was); race rating. The race rating is meant to approximate the quality of the competition in the race, and is on the same scale as TFUS speed figures.
Race rating bias indicators
When they deem a race day to have a speed or closer bias, race ratings will have a red or blue shade. Red indicates the track significantly favored speed that day. Light red means the track favored speed, but not as strongly as in the solid red-coded races. Blue indicates the track significantly favored closers. Light blue means the track favored closers, but not as strongly as in the solid blue-coded races.
Pace Projector and Track Diagram
The TimeformUS Pace Projector gives you an early pace scenario based on contenders’ running style, and highlights if a race projects to have a fast pace, favors frontrunners, or has no speed at all. The Finish Position Projector gives you an algorithmic basis from which to form your own handicapping opinion. The Projector adjusts for factors such as habitual running style, blinkers, maturity, and more.
Early pace
The Timeform classic Pace Projector. The projected positions of each horse at the quarter-mile mark for sprint races (less than one mile) and the half-mile mark for route races (one mile or longer).
Finish positions
Timeform’s visual representation of the field’s projected finishing positions. Timeform uses their algorithms to create a points system to rank each horse in the race, with a reliance on TimeformUS Speed Figures and our Early Pace Projector. The more races a horse has, the more relevant the rating. When horses have limited starts, we use trainer data to enhance the projections.
Pace flags
A race that projects to have a hot pace is designated with a Fast Pace icon. Slow paces (the opposite of a hot pace, or a cold pace) are designated with Favors Frontrunners. Races with no speed are labeled as No Speed.
Best late pace rating
The horse(s) with the best Late Pace rating is designated with an LP flag. If there is a tie for best Late Pace rating there will be more than one flag. In some Early Pace projections the horse(s) with the best Late Pace rating will be a deep closer not visible in the diagram. That horse will be listed below the Projector as a Deep Closer with an (LP) next to its number.
Race entries
Race entries include the entry number, horse name, morning line odds, early/late pace figures, running style, and spotlight figure/rating.
Timeform algorithms look at the race conditions and sort through each horse’s previous races to find the best, most relevant figure the horse has earned. In dirt races, most spotlight figures will be brown. In turf races, most will be green. In synthetic races, most will be light blue. But in some cases, a horse’s most relevant race will be on another surface than the current race, so the color-coding will help you quickly see that.
Spotlight figures
Timeform algorithms look at the race conditions and sort through each horse’s previous races to find the best, most relevant figure the horse has earned. In dirt races, most spotlight figures will be brown. In turf races, most will be green. In synthetic races, it will be light blue. In some cases, a horse’s most relevant race will be on another surface than the current race, so the color-coding will help you quickly see that.
Top 3 picks
TimeformUS makes Top 3 picks for each race. They use their algorithms to create a points system to rank each horse in the race, with a reliance on TimeformUS Speed Figures and our Early Pace Projector. The more races a horse has, the more relevant the rating. When horses have limited starts, they use trainer data to enhance the selections.
Early/late prace ratings
The top TimeformUS Early and Late Pace Ratings are created based on an average of each horse’s recent early and late pace figures. Also taken into account are the horse’s running style, distance, and surface of each race.
Trainer, Jockey, and Breeding
ML
ML stands for Morning Line odds. To the right is the horse weight followed by the trainer and jockey names.
Career record
Includes lifetime starts, number of wins, seconds, and thirds, and total purse money won. Click the blue text to see breakdown by year, distance, surface type, and track condition.
Equipment
When a horse is using lasix or wearing blinkers, or changing the status of that equipment, it is noted here.
Running style
Style Indicates a horse’s preferred running style. Early and Late Pace Ratings for each horse are created based on its pace figures, running style, and the distance and surface of the race. The higher the rating the better.
Breeding details
In order: horse color, sex, age, month of foaling, state where bred, sale location, sales price.
Breeding rating
On a scale of 1–100, a horse’s breeding is rated based on surface and distance. If the race is scheduled for turf, the rating is displayed in a green box; if dirt, brown; if synthetic, blue.
Breeder and owner
Breeder and owner names are listed last.
Trainer details
Ratings
Number on a scale of 0–100 that synthesizes Win %, In the Money %, Win ROI, and Show ROI. Stats from most recent year are weighted more heavily (out of 5 years). White box rating means less than 20 starts in the past 2 years in that category. If no rating, trainer has less than 20 starts over the past 5 years.
Past Year
Number of starts in the past year.
Win %
Percentage of wins per start the past year.
1-2-3 %
Percentage of in-the-money finishes.
Last 2 Weeks
If trainer has won at a 40% rate or higher the past 2 weeks, they are rated Hot. If less than 5%, they are rated Cold. Anything in between is Neutral.
Race lines
Track name, date, jockey
Track name and date is followed by jockey name, weight, medication/equipment (L stands for Lasix, b stands for blinkers), and off odds. If race precedes another race, the number of days between the races is listed above.
Race conditions
If the oval is green it was a turf race, if brown a dirt race, if blue a synthetic race. In order: age/purse of race; surface/type of race; distance/condition of surface (the number to the right of the surface condition shows on a scale of 1–10 how fast or firm a surface it was); race rating. The race rating is meant to approximate the quality of the competition in the race, and is on the same scale as TFUS speed figures.
Race rating bias indicators
When Timeform deems a race day to have a speed or closer bias, race ratings will have a red or blue shade. Red indicates the track significantly favored speed that day. Light red means the track favored speed, but not as strongly as in the solid red-coded races. Blue indicates the track significantly favored closers. Light blue means the track favored closers, but not as strongly as in the solid blue-coded races.
Post position, field size, running line
P indicates post position, F indicates field size.
The top row shows position at the first call, second call, third call, stretch call and finish. If behind the leader, the number of lengths behind the leader. If in position 1, the number of lengths back to second place. The second row shows weight-adjusted, variant-adjusted TimeformUS pace ratings for each respective call, with the final rating at the end. If any pace rating is red, that indicates this horse was running a hot/faster pace than usual. If blue, the horse was running a cold/slower pace than usual.
Speed figures
The boxed number is the speed figure. The color of the box indicates the track surface.
The top 3 finishers of the race, and how far ahead of the next place they were. If a horse name is in bold, that indicates the horse is running in today’s race.
TimeformUS Speed Figures are different from Beyer Speed Figures and uniquely account for the pace of each race. If a front-runner gets away with a slow early pace, we will use our algorithms to downgrade its TFUS Speed Figure. Similarly, if a horse goes too fast early, our speed figure for the race will typically be upgraded. The higher the figure, the better the race. Top-class horses can earn figures of 120-plus.
