Handicap race

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A Handicap race is a horse race where horses carry different weights. A better horse will carry a heavier weight in order to make the race more fair. The purpose of this is to make the races more interesting to bet on, as although one is less likely to win, one will win more if their horse does win. This allows for more skill in betting. Although most handicap races are not for the very best horses, this is not true in all cases, and some of the biggest races in the world are Handicaps, such as the Grand National and the Melbourne Cup. In the United States, over 30 handicap races are classified as Grade I, the top level of the North American grading system.