Spot on there stugots,
The only races I do not rate are the ones, where there are first starters.

As long as a horse has a record it can be rated.
Now, AND it's important, what do you do with that rating?

I personally only bet on races where my first (and maybe the sec.) selections are a set number of points above the rest.

I have to mention that I deliberately skew my rating for horses that
are not going to be short, but have a very good chance of winning.
Sometimes it just works out that they are both, then so be it, favs. win too!

This way I wind up with, maybe 15-20 bets a week, certainly not enough for a gambler, but I play for money, not the thrill of a wager.

Where you get more than 3 or 4 horses close to each other in rating, those are the races to avoid unless you are prepared to bet on more than one for a win.

Sorry darky, I only bet on one horse/race for the win, and if the price is right for the place, and no multiples,
I keep very good records and know, multiples do not pay!

We remember the odd good trifecta, but forget how many times we have a three legged quadie, first four etc.

But each to his own and good luck to all.