how does Horse know how to rate five lengths off the 45 pace, and ten lengths off the 46 pace? what if the jockey strangles the horse, and he site ten lengths off a 47 pace, which we have all seen before. does the horse still run the distance in the same time? take a look at a bunch of races and see how many times a horse runs the same fractions with varying paces. more often than not, you will find that a horse will run slower fractions in races with slower paces, and more often than not, the horse will not be able to make up the ENTIRE lost time in the final stages. again, there are plenty of exceptions, as some horse are quick enough to explode at the end and make up the difference. there are, however, plenty of grinding type horses who will not be able to make up the difference when rated too far off a slow pace.