TRAKUS
 

Trakus is only used at two harness tracks, Mohawk and Hoosier. I've noticed that the beaten lengths at each call is much higher at those two tracks. I'm trying to contact Trakus to see how what measurement they use to calculate a length. Personally, I think that the beaten lengths at calls at most harness tracks are incorrect. The chartcallers are using the old standard but the bikes are longer now with the drivers seated a few feet away from the horse, and, the drivers lean back. I see horses 13 lengths behind that are recorded as 10 lengths behind. Hoosier and Mohawk may be the only two tracks that have the beaten lengths correct.

Note: I've had a very good Meadowlands meet this year and one of the reasons is that I've put more emphasis on the ground that horses make up through the middle half (because I realized that the lengths were incorrect).

Take a look at any race chart.

Individual finishing times of all losers are based on the old equivalent of 1 length = 1 fifth of a second. A horse finishing 9 lengths back is 'assigned' the winner's time plus 1.4 seconds.

If people are using different measurement for lengths then the only time you can trust is the winners.


My program uses beaten lengths and brush speeds and these 2 factors are very sensitive to final predicts.

Ray,
Don't recall exactly when or where (source) I read, however it's been at least twenty-five-years-ago that 6-lengths-per-second was more accurate than five based on then-faster-times.
These days the times are even faster thus it may be more than 6-per-second.

FWIW, fairly sure that the method of charting times (lengths of 5PS) are derived from United States Trotting Association's software (not sure what they call the software these days) and/or database, thus corrections would be required at that source. (The Trackmaster data is acquired from the USTA database and/or charts).

You're correct - TrackMaster/Equibase uses six lengths per second, at least in TB racing. I think it's the same for Standardbred as well but I'm not 100% positive.