How Important is TIME?

[For The Lead]

Ted has written a few times that horses do NOT run as fast as they can, but rather, only as fast as they have to run. How do YOU feel about that?

In Bill V.’s thread regarding +,0,+ w/0, there was some interesting thoughts with regard to a “Sartin” program and whether or not it should “pick” pace lines rather than leaving that task to the users discretion. Do YOU think it should, with an “over ride” option?

WAIT! Read on before you answer.

Also in Bill V.’s thread, he used an interesting horse that seems to bear out the theory which Ted has advanced. I have indicating in “red” the 1/2 mile and ¾ mile times from four races that are at 8.0, 8.3. 8.5 and 9.0. These are the best four races for this horse in route races. This is a very consistent horse that runs competitive races on a regular basis and yet, the times of these races are all over the block and it DOES NOT matter, the horse remains a winner or competitive in all these races REGARDLESS of the time of the race. Here is the horse.

How many of you would “zero in” on the race 4 back just because of the time? Is this the right race to use? Does the “time” really matter? Does using the race 4 back “insure” that this horse will be the top contender or one of the top two contenders? Does using the race 4 back “slant” the race in this horses’ direction?
What do YOU think? Which line would YOU use?