Got a question that needs an answer?

Submit it here and Johnny B. will do his best to get what you need.

Occasionally, Questions and Answers from “A Treasury of Questions and Answers from The Morning Telegraph and Daily Racing Form” by Joe Hirsch will be posted for your enjoyment and information. (Such Q &A will be marked by an asterick.)

DJB wants to know:

Q. Where is the oldest American turf course?

A. Hialeah, inaugurated in 1929. However, in 1665, the British Colonial Government laid out a two-mile grass course at the level Hempstead Plain in Nassau County, Long Island.

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Kevin K. asks:

Q. What was the most sensational workout of all time?

A. On Feb. 13th, 1956, Nashua worked 10 furlongs in 2:01.80 at  Tropical Park. The fractions were 22.60, 46.60, 1:11 and 1:36.40. (Five days later Nashua won the $100K Widener Handicap at Hialeah in 2:02 flat.)

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Dave B. asks:

Q. I’m thinking about buying binoculars for the races. Do you think they are helpful? Also, what about size and price?

A. There is a benefit to being down at the rail (near the 1/8th pole) as the horses are headed for home, but so much of the important action occurs in the turns and on the backstretch that a good pair of glasses is essential. Most horseplayers chose 7 X 50 glasses. These magnify seven times and have front lenses that are fifty millimeters in diameter. However, the 7 X 50 variety are bigger and heavier than many. Nonetheless, they are my choice. Prices for quality glasses start at about $75.00.

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BMK asks:

Q: Everyone is familiar with the meaning of ”worked around the dogs” but can you explain the derivation of the term “dogs”?

A: In the old days, almost every stable had a dog (or two) and back then the dogs ran loose. While the horses were working in the morning, the dogs would often go to the rail and bark at the horses as they went by. Horses would shy away from the dogs and move to the middle of the track. As a result, the wooden sawhorses that were first used to protect the inner portion of the track during training hours became known as “dogs”. Later, when the wooden barriers were replaced by traffic cones, the term “dogs” remained.

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Brian asks:

Q. Is there a particular distance where a horses pace or speed tends to be more of a primary handicapping factor in the outcome of a race despite the overall class of a horse?

A. The general rule is that “Speed will often beat Class when that Speed is unopposed (when there is no other Speed in the race)”. In 5 Furlong and 5.5 Furlong races final time (and not pace) is the most important handicapping factor. In races over 1 3/16 Miles, stamina, class and pace should be the focal points for handicappers.

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Q. Is there any discernible difference in performance between a gelding and an entire horse? – Jack Hammond Gary, Indiana*

A. Dr. Edward Devine, prominent veterinarian at New Jersey tracks tells us: “There is neither a medical difference nor a difference in performance, so far as I have noticed in my practice over the years. Horses are gelded usually because of their poor dispositions and the operation is often successful. In this sense, gelding them permits them to focus their full attention and energies on racing. But it does not add to their ability. Geldings do not run any better than entire horses, nor do geldings aged 4 and 5 have any discernible edge over their entire competitors, as some people believe.”*

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Q. Which is more difficult to control: a horse that lugs in or a horse that bears out? – Jack Adler NY, NY*

A. Jockey Don Brumfield tells us: “In my opinion, a horse that bears out is more difficult to control. There may be several reasons for this. Most boys, myself included, are right handed, and the strong right hand can ease a horse straight, if he is lugging in, a bit more easily than the left hand can straighten him, if he is bearing out. It has been my experience that more horses bear out than lug in. One of the reasons for this is that at many tracks the gaps leading to the stable area are along the backstretch. Horses accustomed to entering and leaving the track in the mornings via these gaps often want to do the same thing in the afternoons, during a race. They can be very difficult to handle under such circumstances.”*