Current TC Spacing Dates Back to 1969

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Cardus

The spacing of the races is unduly hard on the horses, provided that they race in all three races.

All of us are aware that few horses run in all three races now. I do not have the numbers in front of me, but we know that that is true. And the number of starters in all three races is down significantly when comparing the last 10 years to 30 and 40 years ago.

I don't know this is true until I see the actual stats.

What has remained quite consistent, it seems, is that it's to a Preakness starter's advantage to have run in the Derby. Here's an article from 2014 about it:

https://thoroughbredracing.com/artic...ners-preakness

And one from 1998. La plus ça change...

http://articles.latimes.com/1998/may/14/sports/sp-49712