Quote:
Originally Posted by papajohn3times
Hello everyone!
I have a question for everyone here How do you look at a race to see if horses change leads? I never knew the answer to that question and how it can relate to past performances
Thanks
Papa John  |
When a horse is running there is a moment at the completion of each stride when all four feet are off the ground. If the horse is running on its’ right lead, the first foot to hit the ground will be the left hind foot. This will be followed by the right hind foot, then the left front foot and finally the right front foot (the lead foot). In North America, where horses race counter clockwise, horses generally run on their left lead on the turns and on the right lead on the straightaways. The reason for this, is that a horse is more on balance when they lead with the leg that corresponds with the turn.I have been told that many horses learn to change leads automatically. I have also learned that the jockey may initiate the changing of leads by shifting their weight or by some other motion. The easiest way to draw a comparison that is easy to understand, is to imagine yourself walking home from the store carrying a heavy bag of groceries. At some point you will tire of carrying the bag in the same arm and shift the weight to your other arm. Horses are doing the same thing. If they stay on the same lead for too long a period of time, they tire. Switching leads or changing leads performs the same function.
As far as past performances are concerned, it is possible that a horse did not change leads in a race, causing it to tire, but that is not published as a part of the past performances.