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I have to say there is no groundswell of opinion from racing’s participant bodies and general betting public that all NH distances should be officially described to the nearest yard and amended if necessary on a fixture by fixture basis.
Agree with Charlie D’s remark.
One reason is that the majority of people probably do not know that this is going on. Another is that only a certain section would care if they knew.
The same as only a certain section would care if horses were regularly carrying more or less weight than is advertised. The authorities should care, dammit, that’s why they are in a position of authority.
This matter has been raised by Timeform and was raised by The Sportsman – can’t comment on anyone else – and the solution seems obvious. The actual distance a race has been run over should be known both before and after an event. Beforehand it should be displayed on a website dedicated to this purpose. Afterwards it should be incorporated in the official record of the race.
I point blank refuse to believe that Southwell’s 5f has always been 5f. Yards per second suggest it has not been and my own measurement of it suggested that it was approximately 4f 204 yards.
How about the Derby and the Oaks? They are both officially run over the same "about" distance and yet one is clearly run over significantly further than the other due to dolling out. Still, never mind, they are only just about the two most prestigious and historic races of the year.
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