Sprint lane debate once and for all!!!!

[Toohard]

Last 5 days racing in Vic.. 40+ races... 1 winner has used sprint lane to win. Oaks winner last Friday night.

[Lucky Camilla"s Lovechild]

I didnt like the idea of sprint lanes when they were first proposed. But the way I see it now is, there used to be 1 good barrier that everyone was after. Now there are 2. In my eyes it gives another horse with an otherwise useless barrier a chance in the finish. And, if you do some homework, it can be lucrative too. Especially over the sprint journey at Melton. ie. Trifecta's and first 4's.

[Toohard]

Month of April 2014 courtesy of son Luke (homework assignment...). 272 races on tracks where sprint lanes. 26 winners used sprint lane. Less than 1 per meeting. Take off of that ones that would have got up inside even without sprint lane.

Our horse been beaten 5 times after working to front and leading and running 2nd getting beaten by sprint lane horse. Once won one doing same..moment to savour!

Has changed racing in good way IMO. No more sit up and sprint. Certainly not at Melton. Leader must get going early to negate horse on its back.

Good work Lukey.. just don't be telling your Mum I asked you to do that...

[Triple V]

Month of April 2014 courtesy of son Luke (homework assignment...). 272 races on tracks where sprint lanes. 26 winners used sprint lane. Less than 1 per meeting. Take off of that ones that would have got up inside even without sprint lane.

Our horse been beaten 5 times after working to front and leading and running 2nd getting beaten by sprint lane horse. Once won one doing same..moment to savour!

Has changed racing in good way IMO. No more sit up and sprint. Certainly not at Melton. Leader must get going early to negate horse on its back.

Good work Lukey.. just don't be telling your Mum I asked you to do that...

VVV- OUTSTANDING work there Luke. A +++
Incredible stats. Sprint Lanes are a myth winners wise. Race tempo yes. Winners, no.

[Njcstables]

The problem that I have with the sprint lane is not so much that the inside line get a huge advantage, it's more so that the horses in the second half of the field have no chance. It's changed racing so that everything revolves around protecting field position. Horses don't run the gate unless they can genuinely get across, then they hand up to something that just sits wide around the first turn out of trouble. The next one follows it up to the breeze and no sooner does it get there and the three wide line takes off 1200 out but don't put pressure on they just amble up.

So at the bell you have four lines of three but only 4-5 genuine winning chances(all of whom are in the front half of the field). The horses 3-2, 3-3, 3-4 all sprint there arses off around the corner into the straight before the inside line just cruise through.

[aussiebreno]

The problem that I have with the sprint lane is not so much that the inside line get a huge advantage, it's more so that the horses in the second half of the field have no chance. It's changed racing so that everything revolves around protecting field position. Horses don't run the gate unless they can genuinely get across, then they hand up to something that just sits wide around the first turn out of trouble. The next one follows it up to the breeze and no sooner does it get there and the three wide line takes off 1200 out but don't put pressure on they just amble up.

So at the bell you have four lines of three but only 4-5 genuine winning chances(all of whom are in the front half of the field). The horses 3-2, 3-3, 3-4 all sprint there arses off around the corner into the straight before the inside line just cruise through.

The exact same thing happens at tracks without sprint lanes though, at least in the Riverina. At least with a sprint lane its one more genuine danger to the leader.

[HaroldParker]

It's not just punters but keeping more horses in the game. What hope does a squib have as Greg puts it of winning a race? They draw crap they can't do work and win. They draw to lead, they use a sprint early and squibs don't have two sprints. They take a cosy sit, at least they can be a chance. It might not be as earnt, but it still keeps them in the game.

There's certain dominations in harness racing.
Cramp at Mildura
Tritton at Newcastle
Turnbull at Bathurst
McCarthy at Menangle
Hall at Gloucester Park
Painting at Wagga


Everyone complains about these dominations but its no surprise what these six tracks have in common. no sprint lane.

Every example is better and probably fitter horses being driven aggressively to win (or attempt) to win races.

Squibs aren't beating them with a sprint lane.

[aussiebreno]

Every example is better and probably fitter horses being driven aggressively to win (or attempt) to win races.

Squibs aren't beating them with a sprint lane.

Exactly right. Which means the PBD system doesn't have an impact so there us in effect no handicapping going on and we get short priced faves which punters hate and other trainers no chance of a winner and leaving game or reducing numbers. Thr PBD is our answer to weights in the gallops, but with no sprint lane its one less chance for lower quality horses.

[Messenger]

Not wanting to argue about it but I thought race 4 at Pinjarra yesterday was a big plus for sprintlanes.Longshot draws 7..drags back to last..runs up to 3 back the pegs..all horses have the opportunity to pull out and get some momentum up before the inside horses get an opportunity to sprint.with no sprintlane the winner would have run around 5th.Great to see all horses on a loose rein up the straight..Have a look when the replay becomes available..as for some reason it sometimes takes forever for race replays to be put up for WA races!!

Cheers K

(I have quoted K's post from the odds and ends thread here)

Fair call K, it definitely turned out to be an astute drive. I did however think there were a couple of other factors too. A field of only 8 helps as does a 3rd Q of 27.5 Even then the horse that ran 7th was definitely held up

Cheers Another K

[Messenger]

Thinking about how a smaller field helps more runners to see daylight, how would it be if Harness were daring enough to stage 6 horse races on sprint lane tracks. Place betting becomes only 2 divies - so what. Promote the fact that every horse is going to see daylight/have a winning chance no matter where they settle (should happen 90% of the time), promote the quinella, promote a first 6. What do you think? It would be a point of difference from the gallops and even better than the doggies 8 starters (where anything can happen)