Speed Figures in Horse Racing Explained: Beyer, Timeform & How to Use Them

What Is a Speed Figure?

A speed figure is a single number that represents how fast a horse ran in a given race, adjusted for the speed of the track surface that day. The adjustment is critical — a fast time on a lightning-fast surface is worth less than a slightly slower time on a slow surface.

The most widely used speed figure in North American horse racing is the Beyer Speed Figure, created by Washington Post columnist Andrew Beyer and published in Daily Racing Form. Every race in every DRF past performance line carries a Beyer number, making them universally comparable across tracks, distances, and surfaces.

A Beyer of 100+ is elite (Grade 1 level). A Beyer of 85–95 is competitive allowance/graded stakes level. A Beyer of 65–80 is mid-level claiming. Below 60 is low-level claiming or maiden territory.

How Beyer Figures Are Calculated

The raw input is simple: the horse's final time. But final time alone is meaningless without context. A 1:10 for 6 furlongs at one track on a fast day is worth less than a 1:10.2 at a different track on a slower day.

The Beyer calculation involves two steps:

1. Track variant: A daily adjustment factor for how fast or slow the surface is running that day. If every horse ran faster than par, the variant goes negative (slows the figures). If everyone ran slow, it adds to the figures.
2. Par time: Every class level at every track has an established par — the expected time for an average horse at that level on a normal day. Speed figures express performance relative to par.

The result: an 85 Beyer at Santa Anita and an 85 Beyer at Turfway Park represent equivalent performances, despite very different raw times.

Beyer vs. TimeformUS vs. Brisnet

Beyer isn't the only speed figure game in town. Here's how the major systems compare:

• Beyer Speed Figures (DRF) — the industry standard. Published after every race. Most widely referenced by bettors and trainers. Scale: approximately 0–130, with 100 being top-level.
• TimeformUS Ratings — a more modern figure that also incorporates pace and trip information. Available on TwinSpires and TVG. Tends to reward horses that ran fast in bad-luck trips more generously.
• Brisnet Speed Ratings — uses a different scale and calculation method. Also includes separate pace ratings (E1, E2, LP). Popular with pace handicappers.
• Equibase Speed Ratings — the free option. Less precise than Beyer or Brisnet but useful for quick scanning. Found on free Equibase PPs.

Most serious handicappers use Beyer as their primary figure and cross-reference with one secondary system. The key is consistency — pick a system and stick with it so your frame of reference doesn't shift from race to race.

Using Speed Figures in Practice

The Recent Top Figure

A horse's recent highest speed figure is the starting point for any speed-based analysis. If a horse has run an 88 in its last race and nothing in today's field has topped an 82, that horse has a speed advantage — all else being equal.

But "all else equal" rarely applies. That's why speed figures are a starting point, not a conclusion.

Figure Trajectory

More important than the peak figure is the trend. A horse whose last five Beyers were 72, 75, 79, 82, 85 is improving — a horse whose last five were 90, 87, 84, 81, 78 is declining. The improving horse is a bet; the declining horse needs a reason to reverse course.

Career-Best Figure

A horse that recently hit a career-best Beyer — especially for the first or second time — is often worth backing if it's not overbet. Career-best figures frequently repeat, and the public often underestimates their significance.

When Speed Figures Lie

Figures are powerful, but they're not the whole story. Here are the most common situations where a speed figure misleads:

Track Bias

If a speed-favoring track surface inflated every horse's figure that day, the winner's 95 Beyer may actually reflect an 87 performance. When you see a race card where every horse ran a career-best figure, suspect a bias rather than a sudden field-wide improvement.

Pace Setup

A horse that got a soft, uncontested lead and ran an 88 in a slow pace race may struggle to repeat that figure in a contested pace. Conversely, a horse that ran a hard-luck 78 while wide in a pace duel might produce a 90 when the setup is cleaner.

Surface and Distance Change

Speed figures don't always translate cleanly across surfaces or distance changes. A horse with a 95 Beyer on dirt doesn't automatically carry that number to turf. A sprinter stretching out for the first time may produce a lower figure simply due to the added distance.

Class Inflation

A horse that ran an 85 against weak claiming competition may face a much stiffer task running that figure against quality allowance horses. Class and speed figures must be evaluated together.

"Speed figures tell you what happened. Pace, class, and bias tell you why — and whether it can happen again."

Key Takeaways

• Always compare figures within the same system — don't mix Beyer and Brisnet in the same analysis.
• Look for figure trajectory, not just peak figures.
• Adjust your reading when track bias, pace setup, or surface change is in play.
• A horse with a recent figure significantly above anything in today's field has a measurable edge — but confirm it with pace and class analysis before betting.