Run-Up Distances and Rail Settings

[tims70ar]

I have no opinion so far.  Wondering if anyone has a take on this article.


Tracks Running Races at Wrong Distances

[Badactor]

Seems to me this renders ALL numbers moot.

Imperial or Metric... either way you measure it,

unless times start when the gates open, WTP?

"Time only counts in jail." bdhsheets

[Deleted]

I am very dubious of running times anywhere. Here is the last race run at Del Mar this summer. One mile on the turf for $25,000 claimers.

The fractions are :22.75 :23.43 (half in 46:18) 25.44 (3/4 in 1:11.62) :11.08 eighth(equivalent of a 22 something quarter) (7/8 in 1:22.70) :12.87 last eighth (Final time 1:35.57)

I know its a turf race and they gallop along waiting to make their run but I just don't believe the acceleration/deceleration that is evident here.

Not sure if the issue is with the 3/4 time or the 7/8 time but something absolutely isn't right.

Curious to hear what UIC thinks?

Here is the chart.

www.equibase.com/premium/chartEmb.cfm?track=DMR&raceDate=09/07/2020&cy=USA&rn=11

[propro]

largemac, that race was hand timed as were most of the turf races at DMR and some other tracks. The new Equibase GPS system gives some cool data, but the fig makers don't trust the accuracy of the times and you'll see hand timed fractions listed on most of the races. Those are clearly imprecise as well. For your example race, were the last 2 furlongs run in 11.08 followed by 12.87? Probably not, but when you're trying to watch a replay and figure out where the eighth pole is, you're going to be wrong a lot.

Knowing how runups impact fractions and final times is something you learn. Monmouth's 5.5f on turf are run at all different distances depending where the rails are, including less than 5.5f. Saratoga 5.5f on the turf has lots of different runups, just like the 7.5f turf at GP. The Southern California tracks start their mile races on dirt where the rest of America starts their Mile and 70 yard races. It's why you can't directly compare times in SoCal between 8f and 8.5f races since the mile times are so much faster because of the long runup. The 6f runup at Pimlico is miniscule where CD and Kee have huge runups. Longer runups mean faster times which make the horses look good. Pretty important in the biggest breeding state in the US.

No need to complain about something that isn't going to be changed....learn the quirks and use them to your advantage. If a time or lengths beaten seems too good to be true, clock or chart the replay and see if you have an edge over the rest of people betting that race. If you demand zero runups, there's always quarter horse racing.