Those jumping all over Mr. Irwin should realize he is not attacking Thorograph's quality. It's a question of the nature of turf racing vs. dirt racing, and how turf racing is best understood (and measured).

Can you bet top figure horses or pattern horses on the turf and get a fair number of winners? Yes

If you were an average turf handicapper before you got into Thorograph, will it move you up? Probably

Are final-time based speed figures, even excellent ones like Thorograph, the best way to judge a turf race? No!

And that's not a slam on Thorograph in any way. They make great figs, and their accompanying stats range from useful to groundbreaking.

But if you handicap a turf race using speed figures as your No. 1 measurement, you are going to miss a big part of the picture.

The great thing about Beyer figures is that they are not very good for turf racing, yet they have a strong influence on the wagering.