Speed figures....

[Golden State Bloodstock]

I claimed a horse today that ran 44.64 for 4f on turf, which, according to the past performances, was a 100 speed figure. However, earlier in the day, a different horse broke the track record and ran a 44.56. That is also a 100. What gives?

Also, what are the speed figures reflecting? The winner's figure? The particular horse that you're looking at's figure? I'm confused. The lifetime record (upper right hand corner) does not reflect my new horse's new high figure either. Not that it means much, but for a guy like me, THINGS NEED TO MAKE SENSE. Believe me, it eats at me when things don't make sense.

[Ryan Express]

The Speed Figures basically tell you how close the horse got to the track record. A 100 fig means the horse equaled, just missed, or just broke the track record. A 101+ means the horse broke the record by more than a marginal amount. 98-99 usually equals an elite time, and it declines from there.

It's not always quite as simple as 95 good, 98 great, etc.For example, at some distances and surfaces, horses rarely break 95-96 because the record performance was just that much of an outlier. (E.g., a 98 at 12F is outstanding at certain tracks, while 98 at 5F from the rail may be nothing special).

I think today's race was the first ever 4F race at CAL. So, the first run sets the track record. Even though none of the times were good (not even fair, really), they are 100s. After a few weeks of the upper-class horses running at 4F at CAL, a 44.5 will be much lower on the speed fig.

[Aardvark Stables]

Shock,

Keep in mind that this was the first 4F turf race at CAL, so the speed figure is inflated. If you notice all the other track records at 4F are sub 44 times and all by nice horses. Generally, the speed figures will be more "realistic" once there are a number of races at different levels at a given distance, but the winning figure for yours will not change. The speed figure is based on the time at a given distance track and adjusted by sex, I think. As far as the career speed figure number, it is just an average of all races (or all races on a given surface).

If reference to your runner, I don't think she beat a particularly good group and don't get too caught up in the jump in the speed figure either, but she did close nicely and win fairly easily. I would think she should be a decent low level sprinter (look at the pedigree also).

Good luck,

Jamie

[Golden State Bloodstock]

Thanks for the info from both of you. I'm a newb, what other excuse do I have?

Plus, I'm still in full on tweak (non-substance aided) mode with this game here. It gets ugly around midnight on Wednesday when I've been looking at pedigrees for three hours straight...

[Texaseast Thoroughbreds]

yyeeehhaahhh

so im not the only one! ha! and scalp hunter works 108.9 for 6. on the turf at cal.! i should have matched gll with my yearling! lol! texaseast