the best laid plans

[cj]

Originally Posted by PhantomOnTour

Why the need to run 6.5f on turf? It’s a bastard distance.
I think only WO and Bel run turf sprints longer than 5.5f.

Kentucky Downs and Aqueduct, but that is it.

[cj]

Originally Posted by JohnGalt1

In the few 6.5 furlong races run so far, how do the times compare to the races in past years?

From Cynthia pars Clm50K 1.11.2

From Horse Street pars Clm50k 1:11.94

I mean I haven't checked, but without a doubt they are going to be slower because there is no hill.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by cj

I mean I haven't checked, but without a doubt they are going to be slower because there is no hill.

And also because the old course was a bit short of 6.5 furlongs.

[cj]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

And also because the old course was a bit short of 6.5 furlongs.

Yes, always listed as about. Somewhere in my data I have the real distance but since it probably isn't coming back any time soon and I'm not looking it up.

[Cholly]

Originally Posted by classhandicapper

Why do they feel so compelled to run 6 1/2F grass races to begin with?

Turf sprints may be growing category, but it's still 3rd tier racing in this country and typically done at 5F and 5 1/2F anyway. If you have a course that can also handle any or all of 6F, 6 1/2F, or 7F turf races that's great. But it's not like 6 1/2F grass racing is some of kind of classic distance that you should go out of your way to run if there are safety issues or significant expenses.

Those who can, run on the dirt.
Those who can't, run on the turf.
Those who can't run on the turf, run in turf sprints.

[The_Turf_Monster]

When you see 6.5 on the turf, it usually fills with horses that can’t win on the dirt and can’t run in a turf route or a more traditional sprint distance. It’s the ‘i don’t know where else to run the horse’ distance for horsemen. Nobody is breeding for that surface and distance as far as I know