Quote:
Originally Posted by Ted Craven
I'm not sure I get the distinction between the terms Validator/energy and Speculator/velocity (and the consequent differences between modes in RDSS).
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Ted,
The distinction between the velocity and energy programs is largely the variable beaten lengths you spoke of. I believe I mentioned that I was not implying any superiority of one over the other.
At one time, they actually produced an ENGEN Energy and an ENGEN velocity program and the only difference between the two was the use of variable beaten lengths in the energy version and a fixed 10 foot length in the velocity version. I believe they finally settled on one foot per half furlong in the various segments for the energy version. The variable beaten lengths tended to bring the horses closer together in the readouts.
The differences may be slight, but it did create separate groups within the methodology. Some went with the energy concept and others were never comfortable with not having a fixed number of feet for the length of a horse. The other difference between the two approaches was an increased focus on percentage of energy used in the fractions and less on fractional velocity. That has become more common no matter how you like to think of beaten lengths.
I am personally much more comfortable with the Validator variable beaten length concept. I will admit that it may be mostly in my head, but it is there nonetheless.
I salute you for including both within RDSS.
Dick...