Time for "really stupid amateur fan question of the day." If the pace was that slow and other jocks knew it could be a problem, why wouldn't you take your horse past the Tin Man instead of backing up behind him? Couldn't a horse who didn't usually run in the lead still go to the front and build the pace a little without causing himself too many problems? At least start moving ahead before they round the final turn? Or are racers such creatures of habit that they need to run in a certain position in the pack?
Sorry if that's obvious as hell.
