TGJB,

Regarding this:

"Based on the above, and assuming track speeds have stayed relatively constant (a big assumption), standardbreds have cut their times (improved) by about 3.25% since 1980....... the same degree of improvement in thoroughbreds would result in running about two seconds and a fifth faster, or 11 points. Which would be an awful lot."

I followed harness racing for a few years about 20-25 years ago. There was a period when improvements were made to the sulky. It was so important that until all the trainers caught on and switched, handicappers had to significantly adjust their expectations for any horse that switched its sulky for the first time.

I can't remember the exact dates, but that may account for some of the "excess" improvement in standardbreds vs flats. Perhaps other improvements have been made to the sulky since then. I haven't followed the sport in many many years.



Post Edited (11-17-03 22:28)