Distances on NH Courses

Really good piece by Prufrock.

I'm a time sceptic, for many of the reasons he highlights, but I'd have more interest in it as a form-assessment tool, if it wasn't all a bit so vague.
 
Maybe I shouldn't be but my gob is a bit smacked.

I've presumed for some time that race distances were measured via satellite and were therefore as accurate as humanly and technologically possible. This presumption was underlined by the apparent accuracy of amendments to race distances as published by the BHA. What, otherwise, would be the point of saying, "rails dolled out 10 yards, adding 22 yards per circuit," etc?

I'm only very selective with time ratings over jumps but I do take this information into account when arriving at my time ratings for Flat races.

The Betfair Chase is more intriguing, therefore, than SR makes out. The race was advertised as 3m1f. The information stated the course configuration added "half a furlong per circuit". This would increase the Betfair Chase to over 3m2f.

In the 21st Century, it really isn't good enough, is it?
 
The Betfair started from the 3m start, hence the added 1/2 furlong per circuit made it an ostensible 3m 1f.
However, as Telwright has shown since, the additional "1/2 furlong" is pure guesswork, and it's none too unreasonable to suppose they're also using the old 3m start from before the chase course was altered.
 
All bends have been moved out on to fresher ground for the Kelso meeting today, extending all races on hurdle course approx 10yds per circuit.


Approximate :rolleyes:
 
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