Straight & Bends

[leepeach]

Do some horses prefer to run on the straight rather than bends and vice versa? I take it they are all trained to run on straights and bends? Also is a straight mile for example more of a test of stamina than a mile round bends?

[Bang on]

2 hours ago, leepeach said:

Do some horses prefer to run on the straight rather than bends and vice versa? I take it they are all trained to run on straights and bends? Also is a straight mile for example more of a test of stamina than a mile round bends?

Not sure if it's 'prefer', just that each track is slightly different and a different approach works for each.

The straight tracks, horses don't waste energy and ground, going round the outside on the bends. But at courses like Chester, Fakenham, and a few others are 'small tight tracks' where it is difficult to pass and it pays to be up front and then kick on the short straights. I was informed that horses can only gallop at full tilt at the end of a race for about 1 and a 1/2 furlongs. Those who clock the sectionals (or you can watch on screen) will tell you that often the last furlong can be the slowest.