It's about time to consider reforming the way our races are timed

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by hi_im_god

it's impossible to disagree with the basic premise that a uniform standard for timing races would be a good thing. but i'm not sure this is the worst thing ever from a handicapping viewpoint.

it's more difficult to make a good figure if you aren't on the gate crew. but unless you're seriously overvaluing the first split how much does this actually matter?

if the first fraction is an unreliable variable would it be a bad thing to just ignore it and substitute lengths ahead/behind?

From a figure making standpoint, If the timing of our races was handled the proper way ... it would be a huge headache initially, until enough races are run at every track and distance and all the relationships between distances for each place are re-established by the computer databases.

It would royally suck for the first several months, but after that period of misery, and after all the sample sizes rack up at every track and distance, you would definitely get a little more precise figures down the road.

The real problem for doing this the sensible way, would be that the accurate fractions would look completely foreign to jockeys, horsemen, racing fans, and even a great many of the bettors. It might take awhile for people to adjust, but eventually you'd be hearing Tom Durkin saying "he just drilled an eye-popping opening quarter in TWENTY THREE and FOUR!!!, a SIZZZZLING pace here!"