Basic ?s

[Tom]

How can you tell if the horse is first over from the PPs?
Don't you need the chart for this?

What is meant by "first over, did not clear the lead?"

[Greyfox]

I'm guessing that it means the horse vied for the lead and didn't clear, it remained one path over beside the leader.

[botster]

How can you tell if the horse is first over from the PPs?
Don't you need the chart for this?

What is meant by "first over, did not clear the lead?"

Yes you do need the charts because horse A may be 2nd on the outside challenging with horse B 3rd following his cover for some time during a mile, especially on the bigger tracks.At first glance horse B would be thought by many to be first over, but in reality was not. More importantly as a handicapping tool, going further and viewing replays, so to note the actual spot when these horses were making their moves.

"Firstover" is the term for being the first to pull.Though a horse can pull firstover and clear the lead at some point and the term will still apply."Uncovered" is another term that may be used in this situation.(uncovered,top, easy.)

The term "parked" is sometime used, or "weak uncovered", when one is struggling first over to get near the leader, though never getting the top.

I hope this helps some.