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BHA to introduce new calculations from Monday
NEW finishing distances and amendments to the way they are calculated will be introduced by the BHA on Monday.
The new distances to be incorporated are: nose (between dead heat and short head), 2¼ lengths, 2¾ lengths, 3¼ lengths, 3¾ lengths and 4½ lengths.
Distances are calculated by the photo-finish computer, using four lengths per second for jumps racing and five lengths per second for Flat racing.
However, from Monday they will be calculated as follows: four lengths per second when the going is good to soft or worse and fivelengths per second when the going is good or better for jumps racing.
For Flat racing they will be calculated as: five lengths per second for all-weather Fibresand and when the going is soft or worse, and six lengths per second for all-weather Polytrack and when the going is good to soft or better.BHA director of racing Ruth Quinn said: "The downside of the current formula is that it does not take into account going variations and currently involves rounding some distances up or down – therefore the finishing distance on firm going uses the same formula as on heavy going.
"By introducing new finishing distances, alongside the revised formulae, it will ensure increased accuracy in the measurement of finishing distances which in turnwill allow the handicappers to be more accurate in their assessments of horses."
It’s a bit ridulous to have different distances for different goings. Surely any punter who studies form takes things like this into account.
It would answer them better to ensure proper going descriptions and race distances rather than this rubbish.
I’d imagine the speed-ratings boys are tearing out whatever’s left of their hair at these new developments.
Needless to say, this is going to cause huge frustration for form students. The translation between pre- and post-1/3/08 form is going to be a nightmare for the next season or two.
However, by far and away the most pointless part of this from my viewpoint was the introduction of the ‘nose’. Do we really need a distance between short head and dead heat? Perhaps next the ‘baw-hair’ will be brought in!
I sometimes back the distances (bit of fun and to small stakes) and I always knew they were calculated by times rather than what the eye tells you – but I never knew they used the same calculation regardless of ground, ie, four lengths per second for firm and the same for heavy
All I can say is that I’m gald of the change.
Mike
For over 300 hundred years we have been using Sh Hd and these pillocks want to change it to the American Term "a nose"
Another piece of UK culture thrown out the window……….shocking!!!!!!
Davidbrady quoted
"It would answer them better to ensure proper going descriptions and race distances rather than this rubbish. "
Hear hear.
Just give me every horses finishing time and I’ll work something out myself, I’m sure that would be easier now.
Davidbrady quoted
"It would answer them better to ensure proper going descriptions and race distances rather than this rubbish. "
Hear hear.
Just give me every horses finishing time and I’ll work something out myself, I’m sure that would be easier now.
I don’t know about easier.
You first have to guess what going the clerk has told to the judge.
Whether the judge has remembered to alter the "computer" from last year or even if he/she knows how.
The clerk’s guess from the warmth of his office; the going stick value; the jockey’s learned opinion; the announced change mid meeting; the soft on the round course or the firm on the sprint course. Perm any one from any other. KISS!Accuracy – my arse !
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