Today's Hawthorne Matinee Horse Racing Picks

Handicap

A race where a handicapper has assigned weights to be carried by all runners on the basis of their past racing efforts.

Synthetic Surface

A racing surface comprised of silica sand and fibers, such as recycled carpet or spandex. The mixture is then sealed with wax.

Starter Race

An allowance race restricted to horses who have started for a certain claiming price recently.