Timers at the quarters

[kuusinen27]

Why are thoroughbreds allowed to lag many lengths behind the field
and standardbreds aren't? Yesterday for the millionth time I bet a
good horse, the half goes in a shade under fifty and he is not even on
the tv screen, even in the middle of the far turn. As I am sitting there
swearing to myself at the finish lo an behold who comes flying, passing
horses like they were standing still and catches third after making up a
ton of ground. So why are harness drivers not allowed to drive this way
but jockeys are. If a horse is fit enough to make up all that ground at
the end of the race he is fit enough to be near the field at the half.
The argument "some horses just like to race that way" does not make
sense because standardbreds are not allowed to race "that way".
There should be timers at the quarters for the jockeys to use as a guide
and if the half is slow you better not wait until the far turn to start
asking more from the horse.

[Stillriledup]

Because jocks won't get in trouble for that type of ride. Much easier to not run over the money that way.

[thespaah]

Why are thoroughbreds allowed to lag many lengths behind the field
and standardbreds aren't? Yesterday for the millionth time I bet a
good horse, the half goes in a shade under fifty and he is not even on
the tv screen, even in the middle of the far turn. As I am sitting there
swearing to myself at the finish lo an behold who comes flying, passing
horses like they were standing still and catches third after making up a
ton of ground. So why are harness drivers not allowed to drive this way
but jockeys are. If a horse is fit enough to make up all that ground at
the end of the race he is fit enough to be near the field at the half.
The argument "some horses just like to race that way" does not make
sense because standardbreds are not allowed to race "that way".
There should be timers at the quarters for the jockeys to use as a guide
and if the half is slow you better not wait until the far turn to start
asking more from the horse.
Let me try to explain...
Having some experience in backstretch work and getting to know some of the drivers I would see around the barn area (One of whom I briefly worked for), I found that in picking the brains of these guys, one thing is true, Each of them had a good grasp of pace along with a "Clock in their head"...
So that while a harness driver who is sitting behind a "dead closer" may not appear to be lagging behind the field for the one big close, they are.
Those drivers know exactly what they need time wise in the last quarter mile to get to the front at the wire.
The only difference is that in Thoroughbred racing riders can gap behind the field. In Harness the drivers are required to maintain contact with the field.
But at the end of the day both driver and rider are accomplishing the same thing. Saving their horse for the big run to the wire.

[Some_One]

Why are thoroughbreds allowed to lag many lengths behind the field
and standardbreds aren't? Yesterday for the millionth time I bet a
good horse, the half goes in a shade under fifty and he is not even on
the tv screen, even in the middle of the far turn. As I am sitting there
swearing to myself at the finish lo an behold who comes flying, passing
horses like they were standing still and catches third after making up a
ton of ground. So why are harness drivers not allowed to drive this way
but jockeys are. If a horse is fit enough to make up all that ground at
the end of the race he is fit enough to be near the field at the half.
The argument "some horses just like to race that way" does not make
sense because standardbreds are not allowed to race "that way".
There should be timers at the quarters for the jockeys to use as a guide
and if the half is slow you better not wait until the far turn to start
asking more from the horse.

Some horses don't want to be near others, some might not want dirt/turf kicked into their face or they can get fired up easily so it's best to relax at the back.

Plus, I doubt your horse was flying at the end, it's just the others were decelerating much faster than yours (see Mine That Birds Derby)