sprints

[aurora]

Generally, at what distance do horses need to rate in order to finish well? For instance, in a QH race we know the horses all race at top speed gate to wire. So what I am asking is that generally a horse has to race at top speed in order to win a 5 furlong, 5 1/2 furlong, 6 furlong race??

[bdw0617]

are you asking at what distance can a horse run as fast as he can the entire race and win?

[Bast]

Generally, at what distance do horses need to rate in order to finish well? For instance, in a QH race we know the horses all race at top speed gate to wire. So what I am asking is that generally a horse has to race at top speed in order to win a 5 furlong, 5 1/2 furlong, 6 furlong race??

I took the speed records for several breeds about 30 years ago and plotted them on a curve. Looks like horses can run flat out for about 1/3 of a mile, and then they stop accelerating and start slowing down. The breed doesn't matter; each breed generates their own curve, but each rises and falls the same way.

[wangkw]

Generally, at what distance do horses need to rate in order to finish well? For instance, in a QH race we know the horses all race at top speed gate to wire. So what I am asking is that generally a horse has to race at top speed in order to win a 5 furlong, 5 1/2 furlong, 6 furlong race??

I took the speed records for several breeds about 30 years ago and plotted them on a curve. Looks like horses can run flat out for about 1/3 of a mile, and then they stop accelerating and start slowing down. The breed doesn't matter; each breed generates their own curve, but each rises and falls the same way.

Bast...that is an amazing finding...tks for sharing.

[aurora]

That is a very interesting finding. This brings up a second question, do jocks go all out in a 5 or 6 furloung race?

[Dave C]

Bast is about correct. A horse running all out is using its' non oxygen burning metabolism and depending on the individual and the fitness of that individual it can do so for between 30 and 40 seconds, which translates to about 1/3 of a mile. At any distance further than that there is an advantage for a horse to 'rate' and manage its' energy expenditure to optimize its' performance.

[madelyn]

As I have seen in my own yearlings, one horse's "all out" can be a Sunday canter in the park for another horse.. speedwise, that is ..

[griff]

has to do with fast twitch and slow twitch muscle. horses within the same breed have different amounts of each

QHs were developed mostly with fast twitch TB stallions/

for you hunters: Quail have "fast twitch" breast meet [white] while ducks have "slow twitch" breast meat [dark]. tame turkeys have white breast meat while wild turkeys have darker breast meat.

dosage looks at this to some degree but does not include the mares. I believe there has only been one horse with a DI > 3.00 that has won the derby, or maybe it is the Belmont.

griff

[wangkw]

has to do with fast twitch and slow twitch muscle. horses within the same breed have different amounts of each

QHs were developed mostly with fast twitch TB stallions/

for you hunters: Quail have "fast twitch" breast meet [white] while ducks have "slow twitch" breast meat [dark]. tame turkeys have white breast meat while wild turkeys have darker breast meat.

dosage looks at this to some degree but does not include the mares. I believe there has only been one horse with a DI > 3.00 that has won the derby, or maybe it is the Belmont.
griff

Two popular anomalies that are common under "investigation" are Real Quiet and Giacomo.

[wangkw]

Bast is about correct. A horse running all out is using its' non oxygen burning metabolism and depending on the individual and the fitness of that individual it can do so for between 30 and 40 seconds, which translates to about 1/3 of a mile. At any distance further than that there is an advantage for a horse to 'rate' and manage its' energy expenditure to optimize its' performance.

Interesting note.

[wangkw]

Bast is about correct. A horse running all out is using its' non oxygen burning metabolism and depending on the individual and the fitness of that individual it can do so for between 30 and 40 seconds, which translates to about 1/3 of a mile. At any distance further than that there is an advantage for a horse to 'rate' and manage its' energy expenditure to optimize its' performance.

Based on what mentioned above..the closer the distance to 500 meters (from above) the theory holds better ? Just a guess.