We do not round off ground loss when we make figures. We round off the ground we use when we PRINT it for public consumption to save space on a crowded pp line.

Trackmen give us ground like this: 2-3, 2-3-4, 5-4 (Halfbridled first turn Sat), etc. The computer averages the paths, which can sometimes get complicated-- we used to have a guy in Maryland who would give calls like 1122345, for every horse. There are some guys who give half paths. We recently re-hired Bill Spillane as head of field operations, and one of his jobs is to oversee all of this to make sure it's uniform, as well as speak to track superintendents about maintenance.

When we PRINT the paths we round away from 2, which is sort of neutral ground loss. In other words, 1.5 (2-1 on a turn) will print as 1, 2.5 (2-3) will show as 3, 3.5 as 4.

I just watched the replay of the Flower Bowl again. There is no one inside Dimitrova or the other filly around the turn, and without a head on no way to tell if they are directly in line with each other. The most that is in question here is 1/2 path, which is 1/4 point, for any of the three fillies.



TGJB