Thorograph #'s- Past Derby Winners

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Cardus

Did people in the 70s and 80s complain about souped-up tracks on "big" racing days like we complain (rightfully) now? I wouldn't know about the 70s and probably didn't follow the sport on an analytical level in the 80s, but my guess is that the answer is, "No."

Today, hype is more important than substance (unfortunately), and track managements seem to have paved their racecourses intermittently on "big" race days to produce eye-catching race times, as if that will draw more people to the races.

If that statement is true, than how is it that tracks are slower today?

Believe it or not I dont think people were near as concerned about time or speed figures as we are now.

The premise behind the tracks speed is that the track cushion is considerably deeper now than it was in the 70's. Hence the deeper the track, the slower it is. I have no idea if this is true or not but it does seem possible. I'm not sure how they explain the turf though.

[golfer]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Believe it or not I dont think people were near as concerned about time or speed figures as we are now.

The premise behind the tracks speed is that the track cushion is considerably deeper now than it was in the 70's. Hence the deeper the track, the slower it is. I have no idea if this is true or not but it does seem possible. I'm not sure how they explain the turf though.

The deeper cushion (basically more sand) is what Jerry Brown says makes the tracks much slower today, compared to years ago. As Scav said last night, you can find the entire explanation for this on the Thorograph website. It was a year or so ago on the TG board, a long thread with specific "scientific" data to back up his assertions. I followed it back then, it seemed to make logical sense. I don't remember enough to quote it here. I can certainly understand why anyone who has not seen it would be skeptical about the "horses getting faster" premise.