BEYER: Poly's Anti-Speed Bias

[parsixfarms]

It seems that a lot of discussion has really gotten away from the fundamental point. A creator of SPEED figures bemoans what he perceives to be a surface that penalizes horses with speed. (I'm not about to wade into the issue of whether his whining about Polytrack is "sour grapes" on his part or not.)

I think a few points bear mentioning. (1) The safety of the horses. Every trainer with whom I have discussed the issue of Polytrack speaks very highly of the surface, and the fact that trainers such as Biancone and O'Neil want to be training on it whenever possible, even during Derby week, speaks volumes. The safety of the horse and the ability to make more starts are paramount. Perceived difficulty handicapping it is NOT a reason to scrap Polytrack. (2) Everyone complains about the lack of sturdiness in today's thoroughbred. If Polytrack and the other artificial surfaces force the breeding industry to reevaluate current breeding (speed and more speed)methods, isn't that a good thing? (3) Almost every handicapper says that they love turf racing, because they have big fields with close finishes. Now Polytrack replicates that kind of racing, and big fields with close finishes are supposed to be a bad thing. I don't get it. (4) People continually complained about speed biases at race tracks, especially at the "old" Keeneland. Polytrack eliminates that bias, and people still complain.

The issue of how the jockeys ride the surface is also something that I think bears mentioning, but I think a lot has to do with the quality of the horses and riders. For example, Beyer says that racing at Turfway is more "normal." I suggest that this is because of cheaper horses with less talented riders. The style of riding at Keeneland is more like "major league turf" racing, where the horses relax better and the riders slow things down to a European-type race.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

It seems that a lot of discussion has really gotten away from the fundamental point. A creator of SPEED figures bemoans what he perceives to be a surface that penalizes horses with speed. (I'm not about to wade into the issue of whether his whining about Polytrack is "sour grapes" on his part or not.)

I think a few points bear mentioning. (1) The safety of the horses. Every trainer with whom I have discussed the issue of Polytrack speaks very highly of the surface, and the fact that trainers such as Biancone and O'Neil want to be training on it whenever possible, even during Derby week, speaks volumes. The safety of the horse and the ability to make more starts are paramount. Perceived difficulty handicapping it is NOT a reason to scrap Polytrack. (2) Everyone complains about the lack of sturdiness in today's thoroughbred. If Polytrack and the other artificial surfaces force the breeding industry to reevaluate current breeding (speed and more speed)methods, isn't that a good thing? (3) Almost every handicapper says that they love turf racing, because they have big fields with close finishes. Now Polytrack replicates that kind of racing, and big fields with close finishes are supposed to be a bad thing. I don't get it. (4) People continually complained about speed biases at race tracks, especially at the "old" Keeneland. Polytrack eliminates that bias, and people still complain.

The issue of how the jockeys ride the surface is also something that I think bears mentioning, but I think a lot has to do with the quality of the horses and riders. For example, Beyer says that racing at Turfway is more "normal." I suggest that this is because of cheaper horses with less talented riders. The style of riding at Keeneland is more like "major league turf" racing, where the horses relax better and the riders slow things down to a European-type race.

In a perfect world I think that would be really wonderful, but do you really see the sport's top stars making more starts and reversing the trend of early retirements?

[Scurlogue Champ]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

In a perfect world I think that would be really wonderful, but do you really see the sport's top stars making more starts and reversing the trend of early retirements?

I don't....

Not unless the breeding end of the business is drastically changed.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

In a perfect world I think that would be really wonderful, but do you really see the sport's top stars making more starts and reversing the trend of early retirements?

The top stars, no. But what the top stars are doing really has little to do with the day-in-and day-out game. If Polytrack means that the average horse starts 10 times per year rather than 7, it's good for the owners (more chances to earn $$) and the bettors (bigger fields).

[SniperSB23]

I wonder if the perception of the anti-speed bias has caused the lone speed to go much slower than they would otherwise and made it even more difficult to win on the front end. Seems to me if Teuflesberg went out in 24/48/1:12 he could have opened 10-12 lengths on that field. For them to even be that close they would have had to run much faster than they ran yesterday which would have dulled their kicks somewhat. So now they can maybe only close in 36 instead of 34 and have 10-12 lengths to make up. A good closer can fly at the end of a poly race so I think if you are the lone speed you want to get as much seperation as feasible and make them catch you at the end. Going as slow as possible and leaving them within striking distance and a full tank isn't going to work well on this surface. Maybe if jockeys realize this we'll start seeing some more wire jobs.

[Scurlogue Champ]

The first jock that learns to break fast, then give the horse a break in the middle fractions, and then spurt away at the turn will get a few wire jobs I would say.

Put 10 lengths on them, take a break, then kick the last three furlongs.

Aussie style wire-job.

[MisterB]

I thought the jocks got instructions from the trainers?

[Cannon Shell]

Imagine what what of happened if Keeneland still had dirt on Sat? The card would have been decimated and there is a shot that a couple of horses in the Bluegrass may have scratched. Fact is that they had few scratches, even in the off the turf races and set all kinds of betting records on Sat despite the horrid weather. Dont think other tracks aren't watching either. They are.

[Scurlogue Champ]

Originally Posted by Cardus

I can see Takeover Target or Court's In Session as I read this.

Apache Cat and Desert War as well.