There’s an old racetrack adage that “time only matters when you’re in jail.”

Clearly, anyone who espouses that philosophy does not appreciate the value of speed figures.

Speed figures are one of the most valuable, yet misunderstood, tools for a handicapper.

While some might view them as complex, they are actually quite logical and remove much of the mystery and work from comparing times at different distances by creating a universal rating system that works equally well with horses in Grade 1 stakes or in $5,000 claiming races.