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General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: Scooteroo on March 14, 2025, 09:18:23 AM

Title: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Scooteroo on March 14, 2025, 09:18:23 AM
For anyone who plays Meadowlands, tonight's 13th race is a 5/8mile race.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: MaineTpke on March 14, 2025, 09:22:18 AM
Good move having a few of these races for a change
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Scooteroo on March 14, 2025, 09:32:09 AM
Settlemoir says it's an experiment, and it's late in the card because the handle drops off then.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: pocketrocketwinner on March 14, 2025, 09:50:19 AM
Ridiculously bad idea.
They say gamblers would like it cause gamblers value unpredictability and are comparing it to gamblers liking full, competitive fields. Are gamblers really going to bet more money on something they have zero experience with? I say no way.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: John Moody on March 14, 2025, 09:58:13 AM
just a gimmick , terrible idea
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: MIKE CAMPBELL on March 14, 2025, 10:00:37 AM
Shorter distances hurt the drug trainers.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: jupiter on March 14, 2025, 11:07:08 AM
They had 9/16 dashes at Buffalo years ago. Looked like a demo erby in that first turn
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: MIKE CAMPBELL on March 14, 2025, 11:21:08 AM
I really liked the 5/8ths mile dashes on a 5/8ths mile track. One time around, lots of action.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Scooteroo on March 14, 2025, 11:29:44 AM
Liberty Bell Park used to have some of them, and Dover had a few years ago. On a 5/8 miles track, any horse who drew outside of PP 5 had no chance because you always got hung.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Stan durbread on March 14, 2025, 11:33:22 AM
Chester has been doing odd distance races the last few years and they actually get a decent handle on  them
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Cobalt Kenny on March 14, 2025, 11:34:08 AM
I really liked the 5/8ths mile dashes on a 5/8ths mile track. One time around, lots of action.
!00% agree..not so sure I will like 5/8 mile sprint, on a mile track
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: JENNY FROM THE BLOCK on March 14, 2025, 11:40:55 AM
im sure lots of horses get hung in a 5/8 mile race. i would imagine you would want to enter horses that can leave the gate like a scalded rabbit.

years ago i saw AAron leave so fast with a horse (6 hole i think)  he got caught on the other side of the starting car and was declared a non starter.  that could have been ugly.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Locked in with pace on March 14, 2025, 11:43:39 AM
This will last for ONE WEEK
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: pocketrocketwinner on March 14, 2025, 11:44:00 AM
They say that they put it on the back end of the card due to the last few races being having the least amount of handle.
How could they overlook that race 13 usually contains their highest handling wager, the late p4? Makes no sense at all to fool around with a gimmick in their best wager and then tell you it was strategically placed race with the least amount of handle.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Locked in with pace on March 14, 2025, 12:22:17 PM
He had to say something. OR was told to say that. It truly makes no sense.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: JT on March 14, 2025, 12:23:24 PM
I really liked the 5/8ths mile dashes on a 5/8ths mile track. One time around, lots of action.
tmbz1 Delaware occasionally..onc e or twice during jug week do a half mile race. One lap sprint. I think it's entertaining
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: pocketrocketwinner on March 14, 2025, 12:38:54 PM
tmbz1 Delaware occasionally..onc e or twice during jug week do a half mile race. One lap sprint. I think it's entertaining





Curious, entertaining AND appealing enough for you to bet more on the race than if it was the standard distance? Cause they what the meadowlands is thinking here.

I like that they acknowledged safety. My question is did anyone in that race office watch logical contender Sargeant Sonny into turn 1 last week? I'd love to hear from a horseman more knowledgeable than me to look at that gait anr say that it is safe for that particular horse to be sprinting into the turn tonight. I sincerely hope everyone stays safe out there.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Mohawk mac on March 14, 2025, 12:48:34 PM
Back in the 1960s when I first started going to the harness races, Washington Park in the Chicago area carded 5.5f sprints regularly.  Mostly for cheap claimers but occasionally for higher class horses.  The fields were mostly comprised of horses who showed speed at a mile but stopped like a cheap watch.

Obviously only one horse was going to get the lead so it was a mad scramble up the backstretch.  I would say 80% of the winners were 5th or worse turning for home.  Speed didn't often hold up down that quarter mile stretch.

Most races were timed between 1:22 and 1:25 depending on class and track condition.  I clearly remember seeing a Bob Farrington horse named Safe Return win a higher class conditioned race in 1:19 one night.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Papillon on March 14, 2025, 12:50:45 PM
tmbz1 Delaware occasionally..onc e or twice during jug week do a half mile race. One lap sprint. I think it's entertaining

Liberty Bell did a 5/8ths race about once a month back in the late70s/early 80s

fans weren't crazy about it
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: JT on March 14, 2025, 12:59:11 PM




Curious, entertaining AND appealing enough for you to bet more on the race than if it was the standard distance? Cause they what the meadowlands is thinking here.

I like that they acknowledged safety. My question is did anyone in that race office watch logical contender Sargeant Sonny into turn 1 last week? I'd love to hear from a horseman more knowledgeable than me to look at that gait anr say that it is safe for that particular horse to be sprinting into the turn tonight. I sincerely hope everyone stays safe out there.
No didn't bet any more or less.. I pretty much bet the same amount just about every race
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: PineHurstPacer on March 14, 2025, 01:31:45 PM
I'd prefer to see 1 5/8 mile race
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Papillon on March 14, 2025, 01:56:36 PM
I'd prefer to see 1 5/8 mile race

bettors get flustered when you change the distance from one mile

staring at final times and final quarters will do that to you

I recall Yonkers did the 1 and 1/16th mile races--confused most bettors as they couldn't extrapolate the times

Gural tried the 1 and 1/8th mile for some stakes races--it failed miserably


Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Scooteroo on March 14, 2025, 02:01:01 PM
The 1 1/8-mile stake races at that distance at Meadowlands were only when there were more than 11 horses in the race, think they were 12 horse fields each time.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Here they come on March 14, 2025, 03:11:27 PM
I Always thought of a Sprint race on mile track. Car comes off turn and gate opens on straightaway. be around 1/4 mile. no strategy. just Rock n roll off gate. 4 Claimers could be grouped with all classes as there are lots of horses who are just as fast for short distance. I think would be cool to see and wager on. lots of blanket finishes. Like to see Big M give it a shot. Purses could be good and give the cheap horses a chance be more valuable if there a good sprinter
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Stan durbread on March 14, 2025, 05:37:56 PM
About 10 years ago Georgian Downs did an extreme night for a couple years. All different distances from 1/8 sprint to 2 miles. And an another race that went jog way. It was a great night. The longer races had around 16 in them. Unfortunately they quit for some unknown reason
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: MIKE CAMPBELL on March 14, 2025, 05:42:19 PM
About 10 years ago Georgian Downs did an extreme night for a couple years. All different distances from 1/8 sprint to 2 miles. And an another race that went jog way. It was a great night. The longer races had around 16 in them. Unfortunately they quit for some unknown reason
Tioga raced clockwise a few times.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: SAW on March 14, 2025, 06:36:38 PM
Didn't Pompano Park run some 5/8 mile long races?
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Meadow Ford on March 14, 2025, 08:44:36 PM
Several years ago Maywood Park held some mile and a quarter races.
On a regular mile race the starting gate would sit at the guarter pole to pick up the horses.
On a mile and quarter race the starting gate would sit at the finish wire to pick up the horses.
So we are scoring down and getting ready to go to the gate.
Maywood's leading HOF driver drives over to me and says "Why is the starting gate over there?"
I say "We are going a mile and a quarter".
He says "No Shit! You are kidding ? Aren't you?"
To this day I wish I had told him we were only going three quarters.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: JT on March 14, 2025, 08:48:06 PM
Several years ago Maywood Park held some mile and a quarter races.
On a regular mile race the starting gate would sit at the guarter pole to pick the horses.
On a mile and quarter race the starting gate would sit at the finish wire to pick up the horses.
So we are scoring down and getting ready to go to the gate.
Maywood's leading HOF driver drives over to me and says "Why is the starting gate over there?"
I say "We are going a mile and a quarter".
He says "No Shit! You are kidding ? Aren't you?"
To this day I wish I had told him we were only going three quarters.
Great story ngc3
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: MIKE CAMPBELL on March 15, 2025, 12:08:33 AM
Several years ago Maywood Park held some mile and a quarter races.
On a regular mile race the starting gate would sit at the guarter pole to pick up the horses.
On a mile and quarter race the starting gate would sit at the finish wire to pick up the horses.
So we are scoring down and getting ready to go to the gate.
Maywood's leading HOF driver drives over to me and says "Why is the starting gate over there?"
I say "We are going a mile and a quarter".
He says "No Shit! You are kidding ? Aren't you?"
To this day I wish I had told him we were only going three quarters.
Must have been Dave Magee
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Muggsy Mitty on March 15, 2025, 12:12:15 AM
And the Big Dog won it and paid 100
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Locked in with pace on March 15, 2025, 11:03:11 AM
So do they keep it and have one next week? The handle for that 5/8 mile race was way off. Do the CAW computer algorithms bet into 5/8 mile races. IF NO, THIS non mile RACE WILL ALWAYE BE LOW FOR CAW betting IS AROUND 70% OF THE TOTAL HANDLE.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: MCR on March 15, 2025, 01:57:34 PM
Are we surprised that two of the biggest morons to put on colors got into a speed duel?  Lignin leon and bouncin Tyler
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: pocketrocketwinner on March 15, 2025, 03:06:48 PM
Whats the next great idea they are not scared to try? Shining strobe lights into the horses faces as they turn from home in the last race on the card?
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Grandstand Handicapper on March 15, 2025, 03:16:54 PM
For whatever reason, longer races always appealed to me more than shorter races. I think with all things considered, sprints, short races, whatever, are more gimmicky.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: pocketrocketwinner on March 15, 2025, 04:28:14 PM
I believe the CAW's AI/algorithms could not effectively work in a short race so they stayed out of the pools entirely. With that, we saw handle on the races about half of what it would have been at the standard mile. Coincides with the conjecture that caws probably do make up half the pools there
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: rainman2 on March 15, 2025, 07:13:46 PM
I believe the CAW's AI/algorithms could not effectively work in a short race so they stayed out of the pools entirely. With that, we saw handle on the races about half of what it would have been at the standard mile. Coincides with the conjecture that caws probably do make up half the pools there

Does this mean that the 'real' bettors bet into 'real' pools and got maximum value on their betting dollars?
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: pocketrocketwinner on March 15, 2025, 07:37:02 PM
Does this mean that the 'real' bettors bet into 'real' pools and got maximum value on their betting dollars?

To me, it means the gimmick won't last. Of course, Jessica Otten said on ait tonight that more people liked it than didn't. But. Handle was terrible on the race. The bullshit from this place never ends
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: rainman2 on March 15, 2025, 07:44:08 PM
To me, it means the gimmick won't last. Of course, Jessica Otten said on ait tonight that more people liked it than didn't. But. Handle was terrible on the race. The bullshit from this place never ends

Liking it is one thing, putting actual $$$ behind these races is another!
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: pocketrocketwinner on March 15, 2025, 09:18:21 PM
Liking it is one thing, putting actual $$$ behind these races is another!

If harness is a spectator sport then yeah. But it's a gambling game that is rarely treated as such by management.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Locked in with pace on March 16, 2025, 08:26:19 PM
Poor Handle in the race. ONE AND DONE. Not listed on next week's condition sheet.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Scooteroo on March 17, 2025, 04:25:29 AM
 On events 16 & 17 for trotters it says, "may go to 1 1/8 miles"
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: The Exporter on March 17, 2025, 05:59:32 AM
If harness is a spectator sport then yeah. But it's a gambling game that is rarely treated as such by management.
Absolutely. This has been the debate for some time. The trend of extremely low attendance and live handle should make that perfectly clear.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Yonkers1A on March 17, 2025, 07:49:10 AM
T bred bettors seem to handle different distances and surfaces, are buggy people not that sophisticated
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Harness Racing Revolution on March 17, 2025, 08:02:48 AM
T bred bettors seem to handle different distances and surfaces, are buggy people not that sophisticated

Well the breed it based on the mile. It's right in the name "Standard" bred. To be registered they needed to trot a mile and meet the standard time set.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: The Exporter on March 17, 2025, 08:57:47 AM
Well the breed it based on the mile. It's right in the name "Standard" bred. To be registered they needed to trot a mile and meet the standard time set.
Yes, about 150 years ago. It maybe time for a change.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: MIKE CAMPBELL on March 17, 2025, 09:16:35 AM
Harness Racing needs a 3/4 mile straight track. It would eliminate post position bias and would eliminate getting locked in. I think 3/4 of a mile is a perfect distance. Not too long and not too short.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: JT on March 17, 2025, 09:23:13 AM
Poor Handle in the race. ONE AND DONE. Not listed on next week's condition sheet.
Completely false. The handle in that race was $172,000 using round numbers. The handle in race 12 which was the race before was $145,000 and race 14, the one after was $160,000. I know it's popular on here to spout rumors and opinions, but it would be better if more people actually spoke facts.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: simplify on March 17, 2025, 09:45:43 AM
T bred bettors seem to handle different distances and surfaces, are buggy people not that sophisticated

Great point. That's why I never understood why in buggy racing posts don't go off every 10 minutes. Way more to handicap with tbreds which go off just slightly longer than buggy currently.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Parked on March 17, 2025, 10:43:02 AM
Completely false. The handle in that race was $172,000 using round numbers. The handle in race 12 which was the race before was $145,000 and race 14, the one after was $160,000. I know it's popular on here to spout rumors and opinions, but it would be better if more people actually spoke facts.

👍👍👍👍
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: pocketrocketwinner on March 17, 2025, 11:35:28 AM
Completely false. The handle in that race was $172,000 using round numbers. The handle in race 12 which was the race before was $145,000 and race 14, the one after was $160,000. I know it's popular on here to spout rumors and opinions, but it would be better if more people actually spoke facts.

To be fair. People like myself were going by the handle on the race that the meadowalnds displayed after the race. Total 105k.
The exacta and tri pools on the race were way below any other race on the card.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Grandstand Handicapper on March 17, 2025, 12:17:14 PM
I wouldn't be surprised if anything was one and done. Management is going to look at handle. Polls, focus groups, whatever, won't mean squat because the focal point has to be handle. Anything having to do with racing/handle, if they don't see it work first time, it's one and done. Not just blind eyes and deaf ears, but they've painted themselves into this kind of corner so to speak.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: pocketrocketwinner on March 17, 2025, 12:37:00 PM
On the broadcast the following night, they were talking about how the responses on twitter were more positive than negative. This illustrates where management goes way off track. The only focus should be on the handle. Not about what people who arent wagering are saying on Twitter
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Scooteroo on March 17, 2025, 12:51:42 PM
There were only 3 tweets, 2 positive and 1 negative.
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Stan durbread on March 17, 2025, 05:27:19 PM
As with anything it needs to be a long term trial to get real results. Hopefully they keep it going for a few months and there are a lot of horses and owners that will benefit also
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Pacer 2 on March 17, 2025, 08:02:00 PM
Its a great idea they should give it a fair try
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Locked in with pace on March 18, 2025, 07:23:59 PM
IT S OVER!!!!!
Title: Re: 5/8 mile race
Post by: Scooteroo on March 18, 2025, 07:35:08 PM
Instead, they have a 1 1/8-mile trot on Friday night.
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