TGJB,

"Now find something that is actually analogous to a horse with an IQ of 20 running for somewhere between one and two minutes, to the point of exhaustion, while being pointed in the right direction and hit repeatedly by someone with an IQ of ... you get the idea."

I made a long list of the less tangible qualities I am talking about.

They are things like brilliance, acceleration, stamina, determination, gameness, early speed, late speed, gate speed, courage etc....

I think you would agree that 2 horses can both run a "0" and possess various quantities of at least some of these qualities.

One horse might be able to throw in a 21.4 on the turn during his rally or battle while the other is incapable of it because he is more even paced. (think Birdonthewire)

Both might be able to run 6F in 110 but at the end one is exhausted and the other still has plenty of energy in the tank. Not that he could have run faster than 110, but he could have run at the same rate of speed for further than his opponent because he has more stamina.

If there's a opening for a split second, one might have the acceleration and courage to go through that tight hole while the other is unwilling to do so or unable to move quick enough to get there (think Summer Squall at Saratoga as a 2YO).

One might dig in a little harder when challenged through the stretch and another might throw in the towel (think Affirmed against Alydar and Seattle Slew's 1 1/2 race).

One might be more nimble than his opponenet and handle turns better than the other (think Sunday Silence and Easy Goer)

One might have explosive late speed and while the other is more even paced.

Having more of these qualities in greater quantities will lead to more victories because races develop in ways that will require that you have these extra abilities in order to win from time to time.

As you move up the class ladder, not only are the horses faster (final time wise) but some tend to possess higher degrees of some of these intangibles. I think the public is not crazy when they tend to bet horses with great records. They may overbet them sometimes and they may be getting the right answer for the wrong reason by looking at the accomplishments rather than the actual intangibles, but that's better than betting inferior horses that aren't the overlay they look like.








Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/19/2005 06:52PM by classhandicapper.