Track bias recognition

[ken]

What is the best and quickest way to find a track bias?

[LongshotLarry]

Ken, that is a tough question to answer. There are different biases, post position bias, speed bias, closer bias, rail bias, and outside bias. If you see all or most of the winners staying on the rail, and many of them look like also rans in the form, then there is probably a rail bias. If they are all winning from the outside of the track, then there is probably an outside bias, or dead rail bias. If early speed quitters are holding on to win, then there is most likely an early speed bias. The same for closers, if late speed is winning everything then there is a closers bias. The best way to identify them is to watch the replays closely and then check the charts when you get home. I cannot handicap TAmpa Bay downs without checking my bias sheet for horses that have run previously during the meet. Hope this helps a little ...

LL

[ken]

Yes this is helpful!
I was trying to check fractions when at the track to the first 1/2 mile for clues. I try to check a few things but you gave me some more ideas.
I try to guess from the running line and variant about past bias- What do you put on your bias sheet? I think Beyer wrote about + or - rail.

[LongshotLarry]

Yes this is helpful!
I was trying to check fractions when at the track to the first 1/2 mile for clues. I try to check a few things but you gave me some more ideas.
I try to guess from the running line and variant about past bias- What do you put on your bias sheet? I think Beyer wrote about + or - rail.
C = closers track
S = Early speed
R = Rail is live
O = Outside is live
I use ++ for degree of bias and if extreme bias I will circle the date also. I try to keep it simple, too many things to keep track of... sorry for the pun.

LL

[etlngtn]

By using the head on replay,watch where the winners come from.It is also helpful to notice where the good jockeys possission their mounts

[ken]

Also from the regular side view, I sometimes see ALL the rail huggers moving faster in the stretch than any horses not near the rail!

[RJ Racing]

I always thought track bias was more the track surface than anything else. Last week I watched a ton of sand poured on the track at Turf Paradise and horses all day long were running 2 seconds lower than normal.
Ron

[ken]

Good post. "surface" is actually the cushion. There is a base of limestone or other hard material. The top surface (cushion) mis usually 7" to 12" deep and is usually harrowed 2 1/2" to 7".
The Turf Paradise website used to say the harrowed the track 3 1/2".
I call everything except the surface "permanent bias". This is track and stretch length; width; turn incline; base (eveness); drainage. The surface (cushon) bias is what I call "variable bias", which is what you are talking about. Temporary conditions affect that bias- depth; composition; moisture (rain or water truck); wind; maintenance (watering, moving dirt, depth of harrowing, usually affects various parts of the track good or bad); tracks left by humans or machines. Some of these last no more than 1 raceday; some can last as long as a meet or year.
This is a good website to read about the equipment:
http://www.larcom-mitchell.com/aboutconditioners.htm