Two tiered starting at the gate.

[GL2U]

Newbie to harness question. Sometimes there are two tiers of starters behind the gate? I watched Woodbine last night and they can line up 9 across and go two tiered at 10 runners. Is that standard among all North American tracks? Is there in indicator in the pps that designate races with two tiers of starters? TY.

[wilderness]

Generally, there's a notation added for 2nd tier starters.

Been a long time since I've explored tracks, but for decades many halfers were 6 or 7 wide with a 2nd tier to get eight starters.
Some long-time Fairs went four wide for decades.

Larger Fields and 2nd and larger 2nd tiers are common place in Europe.

[HWIG]

Tracks set the number of horses that will start against the gate.
Any entry over that number will start in the second tier.

HALF MILE TRACKS:
Most half mile tracks start eight across.
Exception is Western Fair, starts seven across.

FIVE EIGHTH MILE TRACKS:
These tracks vary between eight and nine across.
Examples: PHL & DD start eight across
and PCD and I believe MEA starts nine across.

LARGE TRACKS:
M starts ten across
WBSB recently changed to nine across.

Check the program by race, it will tell you the horses in the second tier.

I hope this improves your understanding of second
tier starters.

HWIG

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