Final Post Position

[obeguy]

Are there any rules for determining the final post position of horses after all scratches? Is the 1 position ever empty and are the middle gaps always filled?

[Edward DeVere]

Usually, all the horses are moved towards the rail so that all stalls are filled in that direction. However, sometimes the one-hole is left open after a scratch, when the powers that be feel that moving a horse to the rail would disadvantage it.