Handicapping Wind

Originally Posted by Bold Brooklynite

I have the same problem with the sun.

Some horses it seems run better going towards the sun ... while others do better going away from it.

I often wonder if blinkers and shadow rolls have an effect on that. For instance ... if a horse has a single cup partially covering his right eye ... and his eye is in the sun on the backstretch ... but shaded from the sun down the stretch ... how does this affect the horse's acceleration?

Also ... if a horse is equipped with a shadow roll ... and the sun goes behind a cloud so that there are no shadows ... how does this affect his performance?

Any "sun" handicappers out there?

That is pretty interesting to think about. I have been a victum of a horse jumping a shadow or too. But just like driving a car, the sun can play a role.

[slotdirt]

I don't know, I was up at Penn one night where the winds were literally blowing a consistent 35-40 miles per hour. Horses would reach the stretch and start running like drunken sailors because of the winds directly in their face.

Originally Posted by slotdirt

I don't know, I was up at Penn one night where the winds were literally blowing a consistent 35-40 miles per hour. Horses would reach the stretch and start running like drunken sailors because of the winds directly in their face.

I guess there is really no rhyme or reason to handicapping wind. Some horses might be able to tolerate it and some may not. I would assume horses that are "larger" are more adapt than slightly built horses.

Oh, well ...

... it's been over seven hours now ... and not one person has helped out with handicapping the sun.

I'm very surprised ... I thought the members of this forum were savvy to all aspects of the game.

[2Hot4TV]

Originally Posted by Bold Brooklynite

Oh, well ...

... it's been over seven hours now ... and not one person has helped out with handicapping the sun.

I'm very surprised ... I thought the members of this forum were savvy to all aspects of the game.

Sunglasses my friend Sunglasses

Originally Posted by 2Hot4TV

Sunglasses my friend Sunglasses

For the horses ... or for me?

[2Hot4TV]

Originally Posted by Bold Brooklynite

For the horses ... or for me?

Made me laugh. I could just see a Baffert horse with shaded goggles on.