Speed Figures Explained — Beyer, BRIS, and Beyond
Published April 21, 2026 by Horse Race Ready — Model v6.6.0
What Are Speed Figures?
Speed figures normalize race times to account for track speed, distance, and conditions. A 90 Beyer at Santa Anita should theoretically represent similar ability to a 90 Beyer at Gulfstream — allowing cross-track comparison.
Major Speed Figure Systems
- Beyer Speed Figures: Published in the Daily Racing Form — the industry standard
- BRIS Speed Ratings: Provided by BRISNET — different methodology, higher numbers
- TimeformUS: Pace-adjusted figures that account for trip and trouble
- Thorograph: Weight-adjusted, lower-is-better system favored by serious bettors
The Trap of Taking Figures Literally
A horse with a last-out 92 Beyer looks better than one with an 85. But what if the 92 came on a speed-biased track with a tailwind, and the 85 came while stuck four-wide on the turn? Context matters more than raw numbers.
Speed Figures in Horse Race Ready
Horse Race Ready uses speed figures as one of ten orthogonal scoring factors — adjusted for track bias, pace scenario, and trip trouble. This means the model doesn't just take the highest number; it evaluates what the figure means in context.
About Horse Race Ready
Horse Race Ready v6.6.0 delivers professional-grade thoroughbred handicapping — Plackett-Luce probabilities, Monte Carlo exotic simulation, orthogonal de-correlation, track bias intelligence, and overlay detection. $17.99/month or $199 lifetime.