Case The Race - Classic Starters

The logic behind stride length is straight forward -- other things being equal, the horse with the longer stride can take fewer strides to cover the same distance and this can add up over a long race.

In a 10 furlong race for example, using Curlin's average stride length of 23.9 ft, Curlin will need to take about 276 strides to cover the distance. After the same number of strides, Colonel John, with an average stride length of 23.4 ft (only six inches shorter than Culin's) is over 100 ft back.

Looking at the table below, it appears that Casino Drive is matched very well with Curlin, while Go Between has a slightly longer stride length than both of them and has done this on the synthetic surface. What will happen to Culin's stride on the synthetic? We have seen many horses that having longer strides moving from the dirt to the synthetic.

Starter

Average

# Races

Since

Comments

Casino Drive

24.1

2

10-May-08

Stacks up well with Curlin - he had a slight increase in stride length when moving from the dirt to the synthetic track.

Champs Elysees (GB)

24.2

4

7-Jun-08

A turf horse whose one out on the synthetic saw about a 10% reduction in stride length.

Colonel John

23.4

4

5-Apr-08

Enjoys an increase in stride length when competing on synthetic in California.

Curlin

23.9

9

5-May-07

The most consistent stide though this will be his first time on synthetic.

Duke of Marmalade (IRE)

-

-

-

Tough to compare surfaces - European vs American turf - first time on synthetic.

Fairbanks

23.8

2

9-Aug-08

Has been a dirt horse with a solid stride length. His last out saw a drop in stride lengh of over 10%.

Go Between

24.3

3

20-Apr-08

Has run mostly on synthetic, his only departure to turf was unsuccessful with over 10% drop in stride length. He has the highest overall average on the synthetic. It is about 1.5% greater than Curlin's overall average stride length.

Henrythenavigator

-

-

-

Tough to compare surfaces - European vs American turf - first time on synthetic.

Raven's Pass

-

-

-

Tough to compare surfaces - European vs American turf - first time on synthetic. Appears to have the best stride length of the European entries.

Smooth Air

22.2

4

3-May-08

This will be his first time on synthetic - he had an increase in stride length in his last out when moving from dirt to turf.

Student Council

23.3

3

28-Jun-08

With a longer stride length on dirt than on the synthetic he bucks the trend.

Tiago

23.9

4

5-Apr-08

At home on California synthetic tracks, however the only win this year came on dirt in Arkansas. His stride length typically increase slightly when running on synthetic than on dirt.