Re: Big Brwon draws post position for Belmont! GAME, SET FUCKING MATCH!
Let me add my two cents to this topic tonight. For those unaware, I've been around horses for over 60 years in some form or fashion - this does not make me an expert but feel it warrants a good opinion (if not better). The rail and/or inner post positions for certain tracks, surfaces and distances can mean the world of difference. A great example of this has been the KEE spring meet, prior to the carpet being laid down, if your horse was fortunate enough to draw one of those spots you had a better than average chance of being asked to smile after the race (win and you get a photo in the winner's circle). It did not matter if the horse was 1:9, 12:1, 30:1 or up to 50:1, the horse somehow got there.
In (dirt) sprint racing, races under a mile, post position is more important (generally) than those towards the middle and outward. Why? Obviously, the closer one is to the inner rail, the less distance you have to run (no wide trips). Great example for you, if there were two horses of exact equal ability, skill level, conditioning, etc and one was in the first gate while the other in gate 7, the one in gate 7 is about 20 feet from the inner rail from the get go. If any of 5the horses to his/her left (2-6) have an early speed, it could either force the 7 to match strides (going wide using extra energy) or to drop back and slide over (then needing a "rocket" like move to get into position.
For (dirt) routes, races over a mile the position is not as important but the inner ones are worse than the middle and outer. With being on the rail one runs the risk of being boxed in and/or cut off. Neither is favorable. The other jocks could very easily position themselves to surround you from the start and you're stuck until an opening appears. All the while, you're taking on dirt in the face something BB has yet to experience and being forced to run a race that is not the best option for your horse.
There are many other reasons why being on the rail for this coming race Saturday is not the best thing in the world but, won't list them all as the hockey game is on and I do have an interest in the outcome.