Go Freud!

[FOS]

hi Tairaterces

Respectfully...sometimes distances do vary...although unless you (or anyone for that matter) correctly interpret the information offered in the official chart of the race...it might not be recognized.

It's common practice on many turf courses (in North America anyway)...that temporary rails (aka 'the dogs') are set in place outward from the permanent hedge (or rail or whatever) onto the turf course. This is usually done to protect the inside part of the turf course from being 'chopped up' (as a result of excessive use...inclement weather etc etc etc). As a result, the inside part of the course might be preserved (at least to some extent)...and available for service...including when stakes races are scheduled for the surface. The Temp Rails also allow the divots (which the grounds crew replaces) to have some time to take hold and other repair and maintenance functions to take affect...making for a safer surface etc to race on.

Also as a result of using the temporary rails...the distance the horses have to run (versus if the temporary rails were not used) is longer (because no adjustment is made re: the starting point where the clock is triggered and the finish line where the clock is again triggered...at least I've never heard of such an adjustment).

The conditions of the race (as described in the condition book) might indicate the distance scheduled to be run (on the turf) is a mile...or a mile and a sixteenth...or a mile and an eighth or whatever....but ultimately the distance/s run will be longer (than indicated in the condition book) if the temporary rails (aka 'the dogs') are set outward (from the permanent hedge or rail or whatever) onto the course. Such decisions (whether or not to use the temporary rails and/or where they'll be set) are often made after the time of entry.

When measuring the permanent rail or the outside edge of the permanent hedge (or whatever) from the starting point where the clock is triggered to the finish line (where the clock is again triggered) for a one mile thoroughbred race (for example)...the distance would measure one mile.

Often though the temporary rail is set at 10' or at 20' (out onto the turf course) at Calder...(and as halo referenced, the temporary rail is sometimes set out 9' at Saratoga). I suggest that the distance off the hedge (or rail or whatever) where Temp Rails will be set (at the various tracks in North America) is determined by track officials and course superintendents etc (taking into account many factors, including the dimensions of the course and the number of horses intended to run). But let me be clear...if the temporary rails are ordered to be set at 10' for a race...they will all be set at 10' feet for the race. And in such a case the official chart of the race will read the distance of the race followed by Temp Rail set at 10'...or whatever distance the Temp Rail was officially set at.

I expect that the track superintendant (after consultation with the grounds crew) reports to the racing secretary, who might report to the GM...and the decision is made whether to keep the race on the turf or move it onto the main track. If kept on the turf a decision is made whether the Temp Rail will be used...and if so...at what distance from the permanent hedge (or rail or whatever) all the rails will be set in place.

Usually when a race is over and the official chart is finalized...the description of the distance that was originally scheduled to be run (for example One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Turf) that was probably also published as such in the Daily Racing Form (and possibly in the track's program)...might ultimately read in the official chart (if the temporary rails were used) as One and One Sixteenth Miles On The Turf followed by the comment Temp Rail Set at 10 Feet (or whatever the reported distance the Temp Rail was set at).

The temporry rails are an interesting and maybe often overlooked subject.

Respectfully