Ground loss and wide trips is the most overrated handicapping element, and one the general public does not have a good grasp on.

Not all ground loss is equal, I truely believe that. The better a handicapper can understand the different types of ground loss the more he will win, IMHO. Obviously this is contrarian for this site as ground loss of any type is incorporated into the figure in a purely mathamatical sense.

I can not believe that a couple of two year olds, one in the 2 path, one in the 3 path and both hit the line together, then look at the figure and the outside horse gets a better figure, cmon. In my opinion the inside horse, probably a bit intimidated on the inside, ran at least equally as good, and certainly not slower. Or a much the best alw horse loops the field in the clear and wins gets some monster ground loss figure when he had absolutely no trouble.

Now a 25k speed horse at santa anita, breaks a step slow, gets caught 3 wide on the lead first turn, the bids 3 wide second turn and fades to 5th, probably ran a dang good race and is a playback.