Mysterious Santa Anita question

[robfla]

more speculation: probably where they start timing the race?

[jnunan4759]

Not sure, but that IS the thing I'm talking about.

TV does not give a good perspective on that course. They call it "The Hill" for a reason. Somebody there told me it's a 75 foot decent but I wouldn't be surprised if it's more.

They use part of that hill for two other turf distances, 1 1/4th and 1 1/8th. It is amazing to watch the crew manipulate the rails during the running of those races.

[ElPrado]

I think that is used when they set up races on the hill. You can see that the top of the frame of the gate is pretty much centered inside the ring.

[jnunan4759]

That is an interesting thought, but not sure. I actually was taken up there years ago for a race start. The gate barely fits there and there is only less than 10 feet behind.

[ElPrado]

It's pretty much a spot where they get the mid point of the gate to. If the box fits, they have it square and straight. There's likely a spotter on phone or radio at the booth or an office telling them it's right or it may be a computer. Knowing tracks, more likely a spotter. It's easy to see, directly under the "S" in Santa Anita.😀

[jnunan4759]

Put out a probe or two. May take a bit but we'll get to the truth on this.

[ElPrado]

Ok, I'll have an answer as soon as a friend checks her PM's.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by robfla

more speculation: probably where they start timing the race?

I believe it's the 6.5F pole. At least that's the most common explanation I've heard.

[jnunan4759]

Yes, I'll agree on that as ElPrado has mentioned. However, we have to keep in mind that timing is not always done from poles. They have "run-ups" and differing ways of timing races. They move those devices at times. Craig Milkowski is a big critic of the deviations of them.

Not sure the electric eye is near that pole, but it probably is.

That does not account for the hoop. It explains the pole. Which is fine. Not the hoop.

I reached out to Gary Young who has been around there for a very long time and he told me he doesn't know (but always wondered) and doesn't know anybody who knows.

Maybe we'll get an answer, maybe not.

[jnunan4759]

Also reached out to Gary Young. He said he doesn't know what it is, but like us, have always wondered.

This may be worse than the riddle of the Sphinx.

Somebody has to know.

[jnunan4759]

Got another reply. Reached out to Mary Forney of the TOC who I was told knew a lot about Santa Anita, now and then. Here is her replay:

"That is the 16th pole. Makes it 6 and 1/2 furlongs to the wire. The reason they say “about” six and a half is that the gate placement doesn’t allow for our normal run-up distance before the timer kicks in. Not enough room up there to move the gate any farther back. The big yellow ring made it easy to see for hand timing."



Hmmm.

[jnunan4759]

Asked Mary if the hand-time the first 1/16h on the hill, jere is what she said:

"the timer begins at the 6-1/2 furlong pole. The timer actually only times from the first pole for any race, but every race has a bit of a “run-up” distance that is not timed. It’s just a little shorter of a “run-up” for the downhill turf course race."