Erroneous Times - GMAX

[mountainman]

I need accurate figs, not to split hairs (if my deliberations get to that point of precision, I've almost certainly failed to consider broader, more over-arching factors and have not spent enough time exploring how the various numbers were earned.)

Instead, I use them to help guesstimate which contenders will take how much play ( It continues to amaze me in this supposed era of highly evolved handicapping just how much influence the almighty-beyers wield over the win pool.), to help trace form-cycles and patterns of deterioration, to make sure a horse is intrinsically fast enough to triumph at the level in question (please note that I said "leve,l" not "competition." That's because I've learned the hard way that contenders ostensibly faster than their respective fields, but nonetheless falling notably shy of par figs for the level, are usually poor bets.), and to point out horses I'll have to fade (if plausible) in order to
get value.

I will admit that as an in-house analyst, figs are not my strong-suit, but, then again, my more-rounded holistic approach perhaps better suits the job.

FWIW, I've found Mahoning times and fractions to be nearly useless.

[cj]

Here is an example of another horribly timed race. The race is 5f and the run up is supposed to be 20 feet. Backing up from the wire by final time puts the horses here:



The race is mistimed by a full second. It was obvious there were problems at the opening 1/4, but the race chart only says the opening quarter was hand timed. The rest were left alone I guess.

[Tom]

Well, to their credit, at least the jocks were up!

[therussmeister]

Originally Posted by MooseDog

The talk about start lines got me thinking, does anyone remember the use of the flag man, as in "the flag is up"?

Wondering the last time anyone remembers a track using one.

For you young-uns, back in the day a guy used to stand at what we have been calling the start line. As the last horse would load into the gate he would raise a brightly colored flag, at which point the announcer would say "the flag is up".

As the horses were released from the gate, the flag man would drop his flag quickly as the horses passed him, signaling the timer to start the clock or watch.

Hollywood Park was still using a flag man in the early simulcast days, so that would be the early '90s.

However, my reason for revisiting this thread is to share this press release from Equibase regarding race timing.

https://www.equibase.com/content/new...120release.cfm

[Al Gobbi]

Originally Posted by MooseDog

The talk about start lines got me thinking, does anyone remember the use of the flag man, as in "the flag is up"?

Wondering the last time anyone remembers a track using one.

For you young-uns, back in the day a guy used to stand at what we have been calling the start line. As the last horse would load into the gate he would raise a brightly colored flag, at which point the announcer would say "the flag is up".

As the horses were released from the gate, the flag man would drop his flag quickly as the horses passed him, signaling the timer to start the clock or watch.

Suffolk used a flag person for sprints and I believe Fairmount still uses one as well

[cj]

Originally Posted by therussmeister

Hollywood Park was still using a flag man in the early simulcast days, so that would be the early '90s.

However, my reason for revisiting this thread is to share this press release from Equibase regarding race timing.

https://www.equibase.com/content/new...120release.cfm

[classhandicapper]

Good job by CJ, Randy Moss, and others attracting enough attention to this to get something done.

[Tom]

[classhandicapper]

Equibase has begun publishing charts that are produced using data collected by GPS systems in use at more than a dozen U.S. racetracks, the company announced Friday.

https://www.drf.com/news/equibase-pu...using-gps-data

[Tom]

And racing enters the 20th century....

[cj]

Disappointing they don't mention ground traveled, both overall and sectional.

[Al Gobbi]

I believe you need a Equibase account to access the GPS charts.

[The_Turf_Monster]

Originally Posted by cj

Disappointing they don't mention ground traveled, both overall and sectional.

You’re asking a lot with this one imo. I wouldn’t be surprised if the military has the ability to do something like that from video, but that’s on a whole different level from times and rail distance covered

[cj]

Originally Posted by Al Gobbi

I believe you need a Equibase account to access the GPS charts.

You do but it doesn't cost anything.

[cj]

Originally Posted by The_Turf_Monster

You’re asking a lot with this one imo. I wouldn’t be surprised if the military has the ability to do something like that from video, but that’s on a whole different level from times and rail distance covered

Maybe I didn't write that well, but I was talking about what Trakus has had for ages. It was part of GMAX originally but had problems and hasn't returned.