TurfPedia - The Horse Racing Encyclopedia

LONG SPRINTS

Long sprints are carded at distances of 61/2 furlongs and seven furlongs.
A logical paradox hovers about the long sprints. Although frontrunners and pace-pressers dominate, and the speed factors of handicapping merit priority, now the late-running sprinters enjoy a significantly greater chance. Oddly enough, late-running sprinters, the closers, often find better opportunities to catch up at 61/2 furlongs than at seven. The explanation is pace. Studies of fractional pars reveal that frontrunners record the same fractional times at 6 1/2 furlongs as they do at six, but typically slow the pace at seven furlongs.

Because the fractional times at 61/2 furlongs normally will be as fast as fractional times at six furlongs, frontrunners will tire as badly in the longer sprints, but closers will have an extra sixteenth of a mile to exploit the situation. Many do.

At 6 1/2 furlongs, therefore, handicappers benefit by paying added attention to the probable early pace. Two circumstances, in particular, should serve notice the closers will be a dangerous late factor.

First, the early pace will be contested among three or more frontrunners. A trio on the lead accelerates the pace and intensifies the conflict, as none of the horses can settle into an accommodating stride, and sets up the closers' late charge.

Second, the early pace will be controlled by cheap speed, the types that regularly expire at six furlongs, or tire noticeably, barely lasting. Or a pair of ordinary to common frontrunners will contest a fast early pace for four furlongs, weakening one another before the eighth pole arrives.

At seven furlongs the pace analysis should determine whether the early pace (start to second call) might be inordinately fast or inordinately slow. If too fast, the late-running sprinters will inherit a marvelous opportunity to rule in the stretch. If too slow, the front flight will merely draw away after passing the prestretch call. Closers will be unable to overtake the pace.

An ordinary pace at seven furlongs does not interfere with the frontrunners' statistical advantages in sprints.