BTW If you have time, would you look at that Sparkle Slew race posted in the Changing Leads thread? (JK*.5)
http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/s...29&postcount=7 I see the horse switch to her right ( correct )lead at 1:18 which was very late. And as you can see, that is exactly when the horse starts to draw away. I try and liken it to a boxer only using one arm to throw punches. That arm gets pretty tired if it's the only one doing the work. Using both provides more stamina as well as balance and lessens muscle fatigue in one certain area. Nothing worse than playing a speed horse that is still clear at the 1/8th pole but on the wrong lead. You just know it probably will not end as well as it should. Sometimes they hang on, but more times than not, the get nailed.
Horses that run counter clockwise like the U.S. does are taught to run down straightaways on their right lead and around turns on their left lead. This is one of the first things they learn months before coming to the track.
It is true that sometimes the older horse won't switch because it might be a comfort, or lack of comfort thing going on. That is seen more in cheaper racing venues with older horses usually but not always. Switching back and forth can be a comfort thing as well. Or, on turf, mud or slop, or a cuppy sandy track, basically a surface they are struggling with, it can be that they are not comfortable with the footing and don't trust it. So they switch to find more solid footing. It really depends on too many things to say it's only one or two things.
When you see a maiden not switching, it can be that the horse is or has developed a bad habit. That habit is VERY hard to break. Some cheap speeds get so mentally stressed out that when pressured, they can't seem to remember to switch. But if that same horse has a comfortable lead as it turns for home, they might very well switch on that occasion.
Some still just will not switch period. And while that cheapens all horses because they can never reach their potential , they are not always cheaper horses.
Lite The Fuse hated to switch leads. Rarely if ever did. He was a hell of a horse even without doing so . Think how good he would have been had he switched turning for home. His offspring rarely did either which IMO is why he threw mostly cheap one dimensional speed horses.
Knowing a track that you play well and knowing the horses that do not switch can really make throwing speed out much easier. If it looks like a duel they will most probably fail. But if they are a type that WILL switch if left alone turning for home, and the pace suggests the horse will be clear at that spot, you can decide if it is worth the gamble to play the horse in hope of the horse switching.
It's homework yes. But it is knowledge that most you are playing against do not have. Therefore, too me, it's worth it both to use the horse and to not use the horse depending on the situation.
Lastly, jocks trying to MAKE a horse switch can work but honestly, it does not work all that often even if the rider is successful. If it's discomfort, they just made it worse. If it's stubborn, the horse probably does not appreciate it. I get why they try, but in my experience, you really need the horse to want to do it to have your best shot at success. Now if they just need a subtle reminder, a very slight weight shift or a light tap on the other shoulder with the stick turned down can do the trick. But again, life is good when they just do it themselves and it's never easy when they don't for whatever reason.
Hope that helps.
