Mall wrote: "...sheets sellers and sheets users seem IMHO to be operating on the assumption that there has been no change [in how often horses run and in how much their trainers understand bouncing] in the last 30 years..."

Can we agree that 30 years ago, sheet handicappers looked at horses' entire careers: figures, spacing, overall wear and tear, etc.? When did they stop taking these things into consideration when judging whether a horse would bounce? Why did they stop? Did they stop?

If they didn't stop, then aren't they taking into consideration the changes (spacing, wear and tear, etc.) you mention?

Mall also wrote: "...horses do not bounce as often as they used to, which is what the research indicates."

Does the research take into consideration spacing and wear and tear? If it doesn't, see above. If it does, and if it shows that given the same spacing and wear and tear they had 30 years ago, horses are less likely to bounce today, doesn't this suggest that the reasons for less bouncing lie outside the area of spacing and wear and tear?