Question about track variants
 

Does a low track variant favor front runners or closers? I get confused with this number.

My first thought is that it doesn't favor any by a strict definition, but I would guess that on days where the variant is low, the early speedballs are running off and putting up fast times.

Though this would be the logical conclusion, it doesn't really hold up in reality. I wish I could tell you why, but I don't know.

I figure the average track variant to be "x" or 17 then subtract the difference from the speed figure

horse ran a 70 and the track variant is 25
I change that speed number to 78

Horse runs a 70 with a track variant of 5
I change it to 58

and then I bet the longest shot on the board and wish
:o