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The orthodoxy of race-watching
Since I play only one track during the winter, I watch lots of races I have no rooting interest in, and find that perspective more objective and illuminating.
Beyond individual trips, trends emerge that often defy conventional beliefs on race-flow. Tons of winners, for instance, come under hard rides, and even the whip, long before key rivals also present in the pan shot. Also, many, many winners travel rough, bobble, stayleft lead, short stride..etc. And don't EVEN get me started on how many winners overcome seemingly insurmountable "trouble."
Perhaps not surprisingly, most of these winners are well-bet, leading inevitably to the conclusion that current form and or innate superiority trump trips, flow, and visual observation.
As a situational handicapper obsessed with the particulars of today's spot, and one who augments past performances with a visually-gleaned impression of horses and race-flow, I do find most of this mildly disconcerting.
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