False rails are extensively used in Indian racecourses and except the classic or important race days most of the race days have different width of false rails , sometimes to fox the railbirds . following article is an attempt to clarify few notions of the race goers.
A thoroughbred is trained to run almost along a straight line and to facilitate this permanent wooden (now plastic) rails are laid along the main track and the racing distances (1000m, 1600m, 2400m, etc.) are measured with respect to these rails . Every runner tries to ‘hug’ these rails to travel the shortest way and the heavy pounding of their hooves affect the turf surface which takes time to ’re-grow’ or come back to normal shape unlike a AWT surface or the ‘dirt’ surface of U.S. tracks . To enable this turf track to recover , false rails are placed few meters away from the permanent rails which varies from few meters to as wide as 13 meters for Mumbai .If the races are run on a straight course then false rails would not have much effect on the final time of a race but due to constraint of space all the tracks in India and other countries are mostly oval shaped or elliptical and will have 1 , 2 , 3 or 4 bends for the distance of 1000m to 2400m (Mumbai has only one bend from 1600m to winning post (WP) while Bangalore and Hyderabad have almost 3 bends along a 1600m stretch ) . While Chennai and Hyderabad tracks are basically triangular in shape most of other are oval and the length of the bend also varies from track to track . For example the Mumbai bend starts roughly from 800m to 600m the Bangalore’s semicircular bend starts from 950m to 450m ( that is why a 1000m race cannot be run here) . Therefore, these peculiarities will affect the final time of races run on different tracks .
Let us come down to false rails . As said earlier , false rails do not affect a straight course but it INCREASES THE DISTANCE COVERED ALONG A BEND OR A CURVE. A false rail of 1m will increase the distance by 3m (1 length) for Bangalore but will increase it by 1.6m for Mumbai and thus 5m false rails will increase the travel distance by 15m( 5 ½ lengths) for Bangalore and 8 m for Mumbai (these are rough approximations given as an example and can be refined further for mathematical calculations- which is beyond the scope of this article) and thus the final timings with false rails will be slower . this was the case in the last century and in 70’s 80’s and 90’s the timings with false rails were slower because no compensation for increase distance due to use of false rails was given . But since lasr t few years , Mumbai/Pune , Bangalore/Mysore and Hyderabad have started using Rodometer to compensate this increase in distance due to false rails . The distance is NOW measured one to two meter away from the false rails and the starting gates are placed accordingly . This theoretically enables a runner to travel the actual distance as published for the race in the programme . Therefore, the effect of false rails on Indian tracks is now negligible or almost redundant …
In USA they give the exact distance of the race run ,e.g., 1002m(for 1000m), 1201m ,1603m etc. as measured by Rodometer…
6/26/2009
Penetrometer and its importance
(though it is a reproduction of my old article but being 'original' I would like to start with it.)
PENETEROMETER READINGS AND THEIR MEANING
Horseracing is a complicated but a challenging game with many unknowns and imponderables . Peneterometer reading is one of the parameter which tries to indicate the kind of ‘going’ on a particular day to help punters arrive at a correct decision .
The racetrack is made up of several ‘layers’ of ‘surfaces’ laid one over each other having different composition and therefore, have different porosity and rate of absorption of moisture or water . for example , a racetrack may have 3 to 4 layers of surface - the bottom layer may be made up of 6 to 12 inches of clay and natural soil which is covered with a layer of 4 to 6 inches of sand and/or silt and this layer is then garnished by 3 to 4 inches of sandy loam cushion which is then topped up by 2to 3 inches of a mixture of mud, sand ,manure, tan etc. to sustain the growth of grass (turf) for the whole racing season . Therefore , the turf which forms the upper surface of the racing track is like a skin which gets ‘torn’ by the pounding hooves of hundreds of 500 Kg. thoroughbreds running with a speed of about 60 km/hr every race day . This ‘skin’ or turf is kept alive artificially by regular watering and garnishing to retain its resilience and the quality throughout the length and the breadth of the racing surface . The moisture (amount of water ) on the ground , humidity , ambient temperature etc., will determine the quality of surface on a particular race day which may help or hinder the mobility of a runner by providing an ideal or a detrimental( uncooperative ) racing surface.
To help the punters and quantify these unknowns the race clubs have devised a measurable system which indicates the quality of the racing surface ‘at that time’- ‘on that day’and this ‘quality’ is expressed by a numerical value measured in centimeters – called peneterometer reading which provides the ‘give in ‘ of the racing surface on that day .
And what is this peneterometer(PNR) reading ?
As per the International standards a weight of one Kg. from a height of one meter is dropped on a spike touching the racing surface and the ‘depth of penetration’ of this spike in the racing surface , measured in centimeters, gives the peneterometer reading .. This very simple idea apparently seems and looks very easy and uncomplicated . But the ramifications are not as simple , because a minor change in its value can change the results of a race and help an alert punter and convert him a winner from a loser.
How
Let us start from the beginning .
PNR value , measured in cms., - one or two hours before the first race, indicates the quality – nature or kind of racing surface on that day ‘at that time’, meaning that it can change within a short period (few hours - due to sunshine, or few minutes– due to rains).
In India only few race clubs ,viz., Mumbai/Pune and Bangalore/Mysore use and publish the values of this parameter . In foreign countries race clubs take an average of as many as 30 readings of the entire course , while Mumbai/ Pune take the average of 4 to 6 readings along the length of the course , Bangalore and Mysore ,most probably, depend on the value taken at the winning post and therefore, the PNR values provided by Mumbai/Pune will be more authentic as it covers the entire course . Hyderabad and other centers do not publish these values .
The racing surface (track) ‘going’ based on PNR readings may be divided in various categories ,enumerated below :
1) hard to firm (fast ) - dry with minimum moisture and smooth & even surface
2) good (semi fast) – dry with some moisture – an almost ideal surface
3) soft – wet , water has gone to second or lower layers
4) sloppy – during or immediately after heavy rain ,water yet to soak in
5) muddy – soft and wet with pools of water
6) heavy –a drying track – between muddy and good
7) slow – worse than heavy
8) off – an ‘off’ is any track condition other than good or fast
These are not sacrosanct or watertight categories and overlap each other and can be fairly divided in three categories – good, not so good and bad !!
It is now obvious that harder the surface , lesser will be the PNR value and therefore this value can be a pointer to the chances of some runners ,e.g., progenies of Burden of Proof and Pennine Ridge perform better on a sloppy and muddy track .
While PNR value in western India varies from 1.2 cms. to 2.7 cms. and mostly hovers around 1.5 to 2.0 , in Bangalore and Mysore it is divided as follows :
1) up to 2.5 cms. – firm going
2) 2.6 to 5.5 cms. –good going
3) 5.6 to 6.5cms –soft going
4)more than 6.5 cms. – heavy going
In my opinion the wide span of 3 cms ( 2.6 to 5.5 cms.) for good going is a bit more as an increase of even 0.2 or 0.3cm slows down the final time of a consistent runner appreciably .
PNR value helps in calculating the speed and pace ratings as well as the track variant and though these topics are beyond the scope of this small article , let me conclude with some relevant examples where PNR values will be a help to a punter .
I have selected 3 yr. old races at 1200m because they carry same weight and are not normally hooked…
Bangalore summer 2007
Race no……….PNR value……….final time
29……………..4.8………………..1m 16.4s
53……………...3.5………………..1m 15.3
167……………4.2…………………1m 17.2s
these values show that PNR values are intricately related to the final timings of a race and must be considered during handicapping a past performance but they are no pointers to the future .for pointers we must look closely .
we will just take 2 examples
Bourbon King , a 3 y old at Bangalore track with PNR 3.5(Bng 2006/07- race 126) clocked 1m12..3s while Haunting Memories- (class I ) in race 159 (PNR 2.8) clocked 1m 12. 57 for the same distance of 1200m indicating the superiority of Bourbon King . some days later , on 25th. Feb same Bourbon King has won Poonawalla Million at odds of 9/2 beating very hyped Our Excellence…a 3 yo at a ‘softer’ track condition , clocking better and faster time than a class I horse (at a relatively faster track- PNR= 2.8) must be given due consideration….
Mumbai races 2006/07- 5 yo mare Atmosphere – won race nos. 5 ,53, 130 & short head II in 187
Race no 5 carried 56.5 kg. clocked 1m 11.9s at PNR 2.2
Race no 53 carried 54 kg. and clocked 1m 12.6s AT PNR VALUE 2.5
Race no 130 carried 53.5 kg. clocked 1m12.2 s at PNR 2.1
Race no 187 carried 57.5kg. clocked 1m 11.7s at PNR2.0
Thus with an increase of 0.6 cm in PNR value a consistent runner clocks a slower time confirming the close relationship of PNR value and the final time
In short following observations prove a close correlation between the PNR values and the final timings of a race
Pune and Mumbai tracks values normally hover around 1.5 to 2.0 and any value less or more invariably reflects in the final result . Last year , on 15 Oct 06, on Pune track 2 records were set up by Evatina for 1200m and by Secret Memory for 2000m on the same day and the PNR value was 1.2 indicating a very fast track condition . on 29 Oct Sovereign Power had established another record for 1400m and the value of PNR was 1.4
PENETEROMETER READINGS AND THEIR MEANING
Horseracing is a complicated but a challenging game with many unknowns and imponderables . Peneterometer reading is one of the parameter which tries to indicate the kind of ‘going’ on a particular day to help punters arrive at a correct decision .
The racetrack is made up of several ‘layers’ of ‘surfaces’ laid one over each other having different composition and therefore, have different porosity and rate of absorption of moisture or water . for example , a racetrack may have 3 to 4 layers of surface - the bottom layer may be made up of 6 to 12 inches of clay and natural soil which is covered with a layer of 4 to 6 inches of sand and/or silt and this layer is then garnished by 3 to 4 inches of sandy loam cushion which is then topped up by 2to 3 inches of a mixture of mud, sand ,manure, tan etc. to sustain the growth of grass (turf) for the whole racing season . Therefore , the turf which forms the upper surface of the racing track is like a skin which gets ‘torn’ by the pounding hooves of hundreds of 500 Kg. thoroughbreds running with a speed of about 60 km/hr every race day . This ‘skin’ or turf is kept alive artificially by regular watering and garnishing to retain its resilience and the quality throughout the length and the breadth of the racing surface . The moisture (amount of water ) on the ground , humidity , ambient temperature etc., will determine the quality of surface on a particular race day which may help or hinder the mobility of a runner by providing an ideal or a detrimental( uncooperative ) racing surface.
To help the punters and quantify these unknowns the race clubs have devised a measurable system which indicates the quality of the racing surface ‘at that time’- ‘on that day’and this ‘quality’ is expressed by a numerical value measured in centimeters – called peneterometer reading which provides the ‘give in ‘ of the racing surface on that day .
And what is this peneterometer(PNR) reading ?
As per the International standards a weight of one Kg. from a height of one meter is dropped on a spike touching the racing surface and the ‘depth of penetration’ of this spike in the racing surface , measured in centimeters, gives the peneterometer reading .. This very simple idea apparently seems and looks very easy and uncomplicated . But the ramifications are not as simple , because a minor change in its value can change the results of a race and help an alert punter and convert him a winner from a loser.
How
Let us start from the beginning .
PNR value , measured in cms., - one or two hours before the first race, indicates the quality – nature or kind of racing surface on that day ‘at that time’, meaning that it can change within a short period (few hours - due to sunshine, or few minutes– due to rains).
In India only few race clubs ,viz., Mumbai/Pune and Bangalore/Mysore use and publish the values of this parameter . In foreign countries race clubs take an average of as many as 30 readings of the entire course , while Mumbai/ Pune take the average of 4 to 6 readings along the length of the course , Bangalore and Mysore ,most probably, depend on the value taken at the winning post and therefore, the PNR values provided by Mumbai/Pune will be more authentic as it covers the entire course . Hyderabad and other centers do not publish these values .
The racing surface (track) ‘going’ based on PNR readings may be divided in various categories ,enumerated below :
1) hard to firm (fast ) - dry with minimum moisture and smooth & even surface
2) good (semi fast) – dry with some moisture – an almost ideal surface
3) soft – wet , water has gone to second or lower layers
4) sloppy – during or immediately after heavy rain ,water yet to soak in
5) muddy – soft and wet with pools of water
6) heavy –a drying track – between muddy and good
7) slow – worse than heavy
8) off – an ‘off’ is any track condition other than good or fast
These are not sacrosanct or watertight categories and overlap each other and can be fairly divided in three categories – good, not so good and bad !!
It is now obvious that harder the surface , lesser will be the PNR value and therefore this value can be a pointer to the chances of some runners ,e.g., progenies of Burden of Proof and Pennine Ridge perform better on a sloppy and muddy track .
While PNR value in western India varies from 1.2 cms. to 2.7 cms. and mostly hovers around 1.5 to 2.0 , in Bangalore and Mysore it is divided as follows :
1) up to 2.5 cms. – firm going
2) 2.6 to 5.5 cms. –good going
3) 5.6 to 6.5cms –soft going
4)more than 6.5 cms. – heavy going
In my opinion the wide span of 3 cms ( 2.6 to 5.5 cms.) for good going is a bit more as an increase of even 0.2 or 0.3cm slows down the final time of a consistent runner appreciably .
PNR value helps in calculating the speed and pace ratings as well as the track variant and though these topics are beyond the scope of this small article , let me conclude with some relevant examples where PNR values will be a help to a punter .
I have selected 3 yr. old races at 1200m because they carry same weight and are not normally hooked…
Bangalore summer 2007
Race no……….PNR value……….final time
29……………..4.8………………..1m 16.4s
53……………...3.5………………..1m 15.3
167……………4.2…………………1m 17.2s
these values show that PNR values are intricately related to the final timings of a race and must be considered during handicapping a past performance but they are no pointers to the future .for pointers we must look closely .
we will just take 2 examples
Bourbon King , a 3 y old at Bangalore track with PNR 3.5(Bng 2006/07- race 126) clocked 1m12..3s while Haunting Memories- (class I ) in race 159 (PNR 2.8) clocked 1m 12. 57 for the same distance of 1200m indicating the superiority of Bourbon King . some days later , on 25th. Feb same Bourbon King has won Poonawalla Million at odds of 9/2 beating very hyped Our Excellence…a 3 yo at a ‘softer’ track condition , clocking better and faster time than a class I horse (at a relatively faster track- PNR= 2.8) must be given due consideration….
Mumbai races 2006/07- 5 yo mare Atmosphere – won race nos. 5 ,53, 130 & short head II in 187
Race no 5 carried 56.5 kg. clocked 1m 11.9s at PNR 2.2
Race no 53 carried 54 kg. and clocked 1m 12.6s AT PNR VALUE 2.5
Race no 130 carried 53.5 kg. clocked 1m12.2 s at PNR 2.1
Race no 187 carried 57.5kg. clocked 1m 11.7s at PNR2.0
Thus with an increase of 0.6 cm in PNR value a consistent runner clocks a slower time confirming the close relationship of PNR value and the final time
In short following observations prove a close correlation between the PNR values and the final timings of a race
Pune and Mumbai tracks values normally hover around 1.5 to 2.0 and any value less or more invariably reflects in the final result . Last year , on 15 Oct 06, on Pune track 2 records were set up by Evatina for 1200m and by Secret Memory for 2000m on the same day and the PNR value was 1.2 indicating a very fast track condition . on 29 Oct Sovereign Power had established another record for 1400m and the value of PNR was 1.4
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)