Track and Field Pace

[classhandicapper]

Has anyone explored human track and field pace issues to try to apply some of the principles to their understanding of horses?

Is it generally believed that the best way for humans to produce their optimal final time is to use their energy evenly or is it preferable to go a little faster early and decelerate slightly at the end?

[lsosa54]

Even as a human, I think it would depend on the distance and the makeup of the field you're matched up against. If you're talking cross country, then the nature of the course would have an influence as well. Of course, your level of fitness may also play a role.

I think all that women's track coaching experience was at the foundation of the Hat's approach.

[For The Lead]

Originally Posted by classhandicapper

Has anyone explored human track and field pace issues to try to apply some of the principles to their understanding of horses?

Is it generally believed that the best way for humans to produce their optimal final time is to use their energy evenly or is it preferable to go a little faster early and decelerate slightly at the end?

If I were training a horse for classical distances, I would want the horse to run evenly timed quarter miles. Quarter miles in 24 seconds.

At sprint distances this approach doesn't get the job done. After all, 24.0,48.0,1:12.0 doesn't win a lot of 6f races.

But once you reach 1 mile, you would now be at 1:36.0 and it's getting better.
8.5f = 1:42.0
9.0f = 1:48.0
9.5f = 1:54.0
10f = 2:00.0
12f = 2:24.0

I think my horse could win some races at those distances, with those times.

[classhandicapper]

Originally Posted by For The Lead

If I were training a horse for classical distances, I would want the horse to run evenly timed quarter miles. Quarter miles in 24 seconds.

At sprint distances this approach doesn't get the job done. After all, 24.0,48.0,1:12.0 doesn't win a lot of 6f races.

But once you reach 1 mile, you would now be at 1:36.0 and it's getting better.
8.5f = 1:42.0
9.0f = 1:48.0
9.5f = 1:54.0
10f = 2:00.0
12f = 2:24.0

I think my horse could win some races at those distances, with those times.

The interesting question to me is WHY 24 48 112 wouldn't get the job done if the other horses are 112 1/5 type horses that are running 22 3/5 46 2/5 up front.

I could see saying the second group is superior because if they were allowed to slow down early they could run faster than 112, but other than that a more even paced horse trailing the field shouldn't be impacted by what's going on in front of him UNLESS the jockey pushes him to run faster and get closer.

[For The Lead]

Originally Posted by classhandicapper

The interesting question to me is WHY 24 48 112 wouldn't get the job done if the other horses are 112 1/5 type horses that are running 22 3/5 46 2/5 up front.

I could see saying the second group is superior because if they were allowed to slow down early they could run faster than 112, but other than that a more even paced horse trailing the field shouldn't be impacted by what's going on in front of him UNLESS the jockey pushes him to run faster and get closer.

Well, again, if I were training my horse for the classical distances, I'm sure it would be meeting like horses along the way and I doubt that I would win many 6 furlong races in a final time of 1:12.0 against like horses.
The whole idea is to be pointing the horse towards distances of a mile and more. As you can see from the times I projected out in my previous post based on 24 second quarters, this would be a formidable horse at distances of one mile or more.

[Simon Rowlands]

A book came out in UK early this year which used studies of human biomechanics as an introduction to horse biomechanics.

It is called "Bioenergetics and Racehorse Ratings" and is written by Bob Wilkins, an engineer who uses some impressive maths to support his case.

Worth checking out, in my opinion.

[Ted Craven]

..

http://astore.amazon.com/sartinmetho...ail/0956424309

[gandalf380]

And for those who don't remember, Jim Bradshaw is in the Oklahoma track hall of fame as a coach. I have always thought that his knowledge of human runners helped give him an understanding of horses and the way they run races.

[classhandicapper]

Thanks.