Before changing the spacing of the races or the distance, why not start with the obvious and limit the Derby field to 14 horses. With 20 horses breaking from the gate, at the very least you have a handful of runners who lose the race before the field even hits the first turn. It is a matter of time before the size of the Derby field leads to a horse or two going down after clipping heels two furlongs into the race. I know the Arc and Epsom Derby draw huge fields, but seldom in those races do you see a calvary charge from the gate with everybody trying to secure a decent position before the first turn.
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