It's high time TV coverage had super-imposed markers showing sectional par pace, moving along through the race in the same way that TV coverage of swimming does, at least in the replays.
There was a race the other day at York (Elarqam's, maybe?) which I watched, genuinely curious about the pace. Elarqam got to the front but didn't appear to stretch on, keeping only just ahead, with the pack in close attendance. At the top of the straight they appeared to start to make their moves and I half-expected to see Elarqam stay in front at least until late on but he, then the rest of the pressers, started being overhauled by those coming from the back, and even the doubtful stayer Lord Glitters ran past them for second place.
I didn't have a bet in the race so wasn't focused on any one horse but halfway up the straight I was concluding that they must have gone fast as a pack and folded like a poor poker hand late.
A super-imposed marker on the race would have helped read it. The technology obviously exists and, while I accept there will be other complications applying it to different tracks and goings to ally to the expense, the importance of sectional timings is gathering momentum so why not at least set up a feasibility study of some sort.
(We know the answer, of course - bookmakers run sport for their own ends, unlike swimming.)
Just a thought, but the presumption by TV race readers that a pace is slow because there are few runners or because they race as a pack is just plain lazy.
) they went slow early and Enable went quick late, more or less precisely as I'd caled it earlier.