Is a mile in 1:36 fast?

Question

in 'seabiscuit', page 138 the horse ran this time at Tanforan. would modern horses beat that?

Answer 1

I've read that  In that time 1.36 for a mile was just about as fast as they could go.  Horses now would definatly beat that because of the better footing on the tracks.

Answer 2

It ain't bad, but just remeber Conquistodor Ceilo's 1:33 Met Mile (in the slop going away)  what a race!!

Answer 3

I think in the 1930s, 1:36 was the track record for most tracks.  I believe the moment you're talking about, Seabiscuit was just galloping over the track in a workout.  Workout times are supposed to be slower than racing times.  When Seabiscuit worked fast enough to break a track record in a workout, they knew they had a really special horse... it was a big deal.  Currently, track records over a mile tend to be about 1:33 or so.  I think the US record for a mile is 1:32 and 1/5 set by Dr. Fager.  Horses have gotten faster over time.  Seabiscuit was very fast for his time.

Answer 4

the record for a mile is 1:32 and 1/5 wich is a good bit faster than 1:36 and a lot of distance in horse racing.  However, from what I've read tracks are faster now than they were then.  But, I don't thinnk they are that much faster.

Answer 5

everything in horse racing is to do with the "going". Which means the ground on which a race is won. SeaBiscuit was in a league of it's own during his time.