Lawyer Ron's Time

[mes5107]

Very sound reasoning in constructing your figure. The only problem is that leaves Ginger Punch with a 92 BSF. While it is possible that she scored a 6 length victory at a 92 figure, I think that it is unlikely. I believe she ran a slower than normal figure, but 12 points is quite a regression in a winning effort.
The question this poses is whether or not the timer was functioning properly in both races. Steven Crist (http://www.drf.com/news/article/87120.html) argues that the Whitney was an unlikely record time, but I think that it is more likely that the Go For Wand was an exceptionally slow race and both clockings are correct.

[Travis Stone]

It is very possible (and likely) that Wanderin Boy ran a new top yesterday because he had everything go his own way on a track which favored his running style.

[31lengths]

Interesting....from the comments of the same article.

Steve Davidowitz says:

After Alan Klayman's report of the race clocking off the ABC Video Tape that he sdubmitted to this blog a few hours ago, I tried to time the race again off the NYRA website and the streaming video quality was poor. Would not trust my own previous clocking off that site. Strongly reitterate suggestion to NYRA to time this race with calibrated timing device off their in-house, real time, video replays). As others have suggested, the NYRA should do this as soon as possible.
Regards/Steve Davidowitz

Posted by: Steve Davidowitz | Jul 29, 2007 12:52:11 PM

[Merlinsky]

*shrugs* The time seems legit to me, every time I look at it and the race. Here's two of the comments from DRF.com's article that, to me, confirm it. (I think there's some sputtering about it being Lawyer Ron who did this performance and it's not really fair. If you go by what you might've thought him capable before his Derby flop, I could see him getting to this point one day. 128 might be crazy but no way is this a 107-110 performance either. His reputation was very what has he done for me lately and he's working his way back. He got a track record and it sure looked like he was turning in one with the way he ran. Sometimes your eyes aren't deceiving you when you look at the final time. Kinda refreshing and the horse should be recognized for that.)

Silver Charm says:

TVG ran a bit of a side-by-side comparison between this Whitney and the one by Left Bank seeming to reasonably confirm the time.

Actually a half in 47.37 for a race that appeared to be speed laden seems more out of whack than three-quarters in 1:10.28.

Once the investigation is completed there will be two groups of people with some explaining to do.

If the time is wrong then NYRA chairman Steve Duncker will need to explain to fans and a National Television audience why the Track Record they were told they had witnessed was bogus.

If the time is correct then the Track Superintendant needs to explain why he and his crew felt compelled to "goose the track" before the Big Race.

Posted by: Silver Charm | Jul 29, 2007 2:14:14 PM

Sal says:

I hand timed the Whitney twice and got the correct final time on each occasion.

I did the same thing in the Go For Wand and also got the correct final time.

In multiple clockings of each race, I came within 0.27 seconds of having every split correct. That tells me the fractional times are accurate as well.

To come away with 1:48 and change clockings, as Mr. Davidowitz did, I believe you have to start timing just after the gates open and before horses reach the finish line.

Basically, getting the final time plus run-up.

Posted by: Sal | Jul 29, 2007 2:25:09 PM

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

*shrugs* The time seems legit to me, every time I look at it and the race. Here's two of the comments from DRF.com's article that, to me, confirm it. (I think there's some sputtering about it being Lawyer Ron who did this performance and it's not really fair. If you go by what you might've thought him capable before his Derby flop, I could see him getting to this point one day. 128 might be crazy but no way is this a 107-110 performance either. His reputation was very what has he done for me lately and he's working his way back. He got a track record and it sure looked like he was turning in one with the way he ran. Sometimes your eyes aren't deceiving you when you look at the final time. Kinda refreshing and the horse should be recognized for that.)

i know the person who posted that on drf, and trust me, he's completely incompetent. i'm surprised he even knows how to turn a computer on, let alone use a stop watch.

[packerbacker7964]

Yeah but the timer doesn't start as soon as the gate opens either. It depends on where they have the starting gate at compared to the first timer on the tracks rail. Great run by The Lawyer but to many other horses would've had to run their personal best on the same day also. Hard yes, impossiable no.

[Left Bank]

Why can't you all just enjoy it and be happy for the horse and his connections?