![]() ![]() Several "need-to-lead" types thrown in against each other can create an especially hot early pace. Early pace and fractional times can be radically affected by the pace mix in any particular race. This kind of instinct is overcome by only the best of runners.Īn important aspect of turn time arises as a corollary to the above ideas: The ability, and running times, of a horse on the turn remains the most consistent part of its race. When the 'leader' in that situation advances on you, you had better take a back-seat or risk being bit, kicked or otherwise savaged. In the wild, they would not have assumed that role. Most horses are not natural-born leaders. Remember, these are herd animals with thousands of years of evolution in their genes. The anxiety of negotiating the turn mentioned earlier is compounded by the anxiety of hearing pounding hoof beats closing inexorably behind and just out of sight. A horse that can win if things set up perfectly - will often throw in the towel when challenged by a stoutly closing runner on the turn. Psychological: Class will often exert itself during this part of a race, In lower level allowance and mid to low level claiming races (as well as maiden and maiden claimers), true heart and determination are exhibited less often than in the higher level stakes and handicaps. They are often apprehensive and make it worse on themselves because of that apprehension. For this reason, you'll often see horses slowing down dramatically, bearing out, or even bolting to the outside fence on that turn. Some horses will feel uncomfortable being on their right or left lead (which leg is hitting the ground first), yet they will have a fear of trying to change leads while in the process of running the turn. Physical: It is difficult for a horse (especially a younger inexperienced horse) to maintain its velocity and path while also negotiating a turn. ![]() This is a fact quickly noted by every newbie when he watches his brave front-runner who was ahead by daylight down the back-stretch start to sputter and cough it up on the turn as other pace pressers begin to exert themselves. Perhaps more important: Many races are won or lost during the run around the turn heading for home. As always in the pari-mutuel game, little used information (like turn time) is much more valuable than over-used information (like Beyer numbers).Ģ. It is the portion of a race whose time has to be extrapolated from the fractional times given in the past performances (thus the "hidden fraction").īecause of the simple math, and time involved in calculating this number - few handicappers bother. Why is it more important than other fractions, or the other quarter-mile segments of the race? A couple of important reasons:ġ. "Turn time" is the second fraction (as given in the past performances) of a race - the quarter-of-a-mile (at distances up to a mile and three sixteenths) distance that is run around the turn for home. ![]() A lot has been written about this (as with most subjects having to do with horse handicapping), but it's an important enough topic to deserve another go-around. "Turn time" - the "hidden fraction" - whatever you want to call it - is arguably the most important segment in a horse race. Download "Turn Time - the hidden fraction"as a PDF file ![]()
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