| When you handicap a horse race you may use pace | | | | If two horses are battling at the front of the pack, |
| as the method for determining each runner's chances | | | | then they become the pace setters for the part of |
| or probability of winning. Many great handicappers | | | | the race that they manage to maintain that position. |
| such a Taulbot, Sartin, and Brohammer have written | | | | The pace scenario may be set by several different |
| on the subject and explained how to use pace to | | | | horses throughout the race. If one horse leads, gate |
| find winners. While I agree that pace is a very | | | | to wire, then that horse set the entire pace scenario, |
| important part of a race, you still have to pay | | | | however, don't forget, the horses who let it lead and |
| attention to many other intangibles in order to make | | | | didn't challenge it also helped to set the scenario. As |
| money betting on horses. | | | | you can see, there are wheels within wheels, and |
| For the purposes of this article and brevity, however, | | | | each horse, no matter where it may be running, is still |
| we'll stick to pace and in particular, eliminating | | | | a part of the structure of the race. |
| irrelevant fractions. Fractions are parts of the races. | | | | So if a first fraction is abnormally slow, can we throw |
| For instance, you might divide a 6 furlong race into | | | | it out and consider it irrelevant? Certainly not. The |
| three equal fractions of 2 furlongs each. How fast | | | | race starts when the gate opens and includes each |
| each fraction of the race is run is important because | | | | inch of ground covered by each horse. Horse racing |
| it determines where each horse will be relative to the | | | | handicapping doesn't start at the half mile call and |
| leader as well as how much energy each horse will | | | | races are not just won or lost at the wire. The fact |
| have during different parts of the race in order to | | | | that a first fraction is slow or fast still has an effect |
| complete the race. | | | | upon each horse and its ability to finish the race, |
| Speed ratings do not really tell the whole story, in | | | | covering each inch of ground with whatever energy |
| fact, in reality, they are a brief synopsis. If you really | | | | it has. |
| want to understand a race, you have to look at how | | | | I cringe when I hear handicappers talk about horses |
| the horses ran the race. Each race has a pace | | | | walking through early fractions and how we must |
| scenario. The pace scenario is the key because it tells | | | | disregard a race because the fractions were |
| you what each horse was running at or overcoming | | | | abnormally slow or two or more runners fried |
| during the race. If a horse is trailing and others are | | | | themselves with unrealistically fast early fractions. |
| setting the pace, then that horse will have to | | | | Such races and such fractions do matter. Therefore, |
| overcome a certain disadvantage in lengths behind | | | | the answer to the question, which fractions may be |
| the leaders in order to win. | | | | eliminated is, "none. |