Berri 2,131 Report post Posted June 24, 2015 Racehorses are getting faster, contrary to a common view that thoroughbred speeds have plateaued, reports Yahoo News. That is the conclusion of scientists at the University of Exeter in England who looked at a dataset of 616,084 British flat races run by 70,388 horses and discovered race-winning speeds have increased significantly since 1850, especially over shorter distances. The study found, for example, that an elite thoroughbred will win by an average of seven-lengths, or 1.18 seconds faster, now over 1200 metres than in 1997. However, the improvement over middle and longer distances was slower, suggesting horses may be reaching a performance limit at this distance range. "There has been a general consensus over the last 30 years that horse speeds appear to be stagnating," said Patrick Sharman, of the university's Centre for Ecology and Conservation. "Our study shows that this is not the case, and by using a much larger dataset than previously analysed, we have revealed that horses have been getting faster." He added: "The historical and current rate of improvement is greatest over sprint distances. The challenge now is to find out whether this pattern of improvement has a genetic basis." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leggy 4,089 Report post Posted June 24, 2015 Racehorses are getting faster, contrary to a common view that thoroughbred speeds have plateaued, reports Yahoo News. . The challenge now is to find out whether this pattern of improvement has a genetic basis." Cobalt? Gruff, awego and hsvman 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fartoomuch 1,376 Report post Posted June 24, 2015 The above study and various comments from Trainers and jockeys was exceptionally well covered by Sky news UK overnight. Lasted some 3/4 minutes as a general news item. Grant R 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overcheck 190 Report post Posted June 24, 2015 If their tracks are of a better standard that will have contributed to faster times. Unfortunately ours are not. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foaming 28 Report post Posted June 24, 2015 Came across this article on a plateauing of performance in the context of Secretariat's times which I found interesting. http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/where-have-you-gone-secretariat/ Cubes 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meomy 971 Report post Posted June 25, 2015 The said research Reports can be found in the following links. If you go through Google.co.uk there's further information. & discussions. Biosciences Sole Power winning the Nunthorpe Stakes, 2014. Credit: Mick Atkins Photography. Study concludes that racehorses are getting faster Despite a general consensus among scientists and in the racing industry that racehorse speed has plateaued, a new study from the University of Exeter has found that racehorses are getting quicker. http://biosciences.exeter.ac.uk/news/research/title_457837_en.html Racehorses are getting faster Patrick Sharman, Alastair J. Wilson Published 24 June 2015.DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2015.0310 http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/11/6/20150310 PDF version http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/roybiolett/11/6/20150310.full.pdf Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruff 2,800 Report post Posted June 25, 2015 Tracks play more of a part,no sign of horses here getting faster in the last 30 years at least in the galloping code,different story in the harness racing game but chevy86 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohokaman 5,843 Report post Posted June 25, 2015 One would expect natural progression and development over time...everything has got faster..sprinters, cars, swimmers... That theory about horses running 1200m in 1.18secs faster than in 97 could be argued though. Have a look at Telegraph Handicap winners and times. We had horses running 1.06.5 way back in 1993 ( Victory Dais ) and Bawalaksana and Loader almost the same.. Fast forward to 2008 and Seachange runs 1.06.6 and Guiseppina 1.06.9 in 2012.... Nothing that quick since. Probably more variables in British Racing..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zelda kratchanova 2 501 Report post Posted June 26, 2015 One would expect natural progression and development over time...everything has got faster..sprinters, cars, swimmers... That theory about horses running 1200m in 1.18secs faster than in 97 could be argued though. Have a look at Telegraph Handicap winners and times. We had horses running 1.06.5 way back in 1993 ( Victory Dais ) and Bawalaksana and Loader almost the same.. Fast forward to 2008 and Seachange runs 1.06.6 and Guiseppina 1.06.9 in 2012.... Nothing that quick since. https://www.google.com.au/search?q=mickey+mouse+clock&rlz=1C1CHKB_en-GBAU464AU464&es_sm=93&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=qxqNVaS9No7v8gWR9YWoBw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=979#imgrc=ywPJAy5wdIxZ_M%253A%3B70PIvN5kBTH9qM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.yourwdwstore.net%252Fassets%252Fimages%252F2%252F20000%252F0000%252F400%252F400006756466.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.yourwdwstore.net%252FDisney-Clock--Mickey-Mouse-Wall-Clock_p_20488.html%3B500%3B500 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohokaman 5,843 Report post Posted June 26, 2015 You moved from the Apple Isle Zelda...?? Hope your door locks are sturdy ones.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Portfolio 728 Report post Posted June 26, 2015 Maybe in some places around the world speed is increasing..... But in NZ......no horses at any distances have got any quicker in 30 years! Give me some cold evidence of it happening here. Which shows why we can not compete in many events around the world. Our breeding has peaked....in some areas gone backwards. chevy86 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsvman 295 Report post Posted June 27, 2015 Does this just mean the trainers ,breeders of years gone by we're far better at getting the best out of their horses than the ones currently training now. Also track managers having tracks that we're consistently in good conditions ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruff 2,800 Report post Posted June 27, 2015 I reckon its jockeys attitudes,they run for 200 get a position walk then sprint,there were certainly more freegoing types back in the good ol days and seemingly more competitive riding...the japs are running 1.31 miles,breed may promote speed and stamina but the racing is just that.....nothing worse than seeing the fav drift very late in betting and end up missing jump with the late mover sitting on pace in a dawdle..bring back the 2 minute 2000s Ashoka 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zelda kratchanova 2 501 Report post Posted June 27, 2015 not the ones that boris bet on yetserday elbow 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashoka 1,179 Report post Posted June 28, 2015 Gruff... You raise an interesting point regarding front-runners. My immediate thoughts suggest that free-goers were more prevalent than they are now. I would like to hear the thoughts of others regarding this matter, as they may be a myriad of factors affecting this aspect of racing, if, indeed, the original premise is correct. Thank you for raising this. All the best. Ashoka Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
integrity 17 Report post Posted June 28, 2015 The reason racehorses are getting faster could be influenced by the following factors ........ . A / Distances may be wrong B / Reactions for hand held times are slow at the gates but fast at the finish . C / Genetics . No that can't be right , they're all related to each other in some way . D/ Fitter jockeys E / Faster talkers F / Improved training regimes . ie : 2 rounds even time F/ A greater understanding of combating lactic acid intolerance. G / Huge advancements in veterinary science H / ALL OF THE ABOVE PS* The information provided in this multi choice has been scientifically gathered over 30years hedley 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
awego 182 Report post Posted June 28, 2015 Drug testing technology is far better now, maybe they just can't get away with cheating the way they used too Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chevy86 2,710 Report post Posted June 28, 2015 Gruff/Ashoka, I am with you. A lack of genuine tempo in races today means we cannot know whether our breed is getting faster. Horses like Jan's Beau kept the field honest but any front-runner these days leads, then puts the brakes on and then gets out-sprinted.When was the last time a track record was broken in NZ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohokaman 5,843 Report post Posted June 29, 2015 Diademe at Te Aroha in April. http://www.theinformant.co.nz/racing/archive/2015/04/DI35607/Diademe-breaks-through-for-superb-Group-One-win Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
