What is the horse called who runs in front most of the race just to help an owner's better horse win?

Question

Sometimes owners put 2 horses in a race. One horse breaks out faster and leads for most of the race. However, the owner really wants his 2nd horse to win. The better horse follows behind the 1st horse until it is time to break ahead and win. What is the first horse traditionally called which starts out leading the pack, just trying to really help the owner's other horse to win? I've also seen this done is foot races. The 1st horse is kind of used as a ploy to help the other one win. What is the horse called who starts out in the lead in order to really help the owner's other horse to win?

Answer 1

The half of an entry responsible for setting usually a faster than par pace is called the Rabbit in North America. Sometimes though the rabbit fools everyone and forgets to stop running and wins off on his own. Secondly I dont think that wrong answers should get thumbs up. In response to another answer the horse that beat War Pass was Tale of Ekati, not Anak Nakal

Answer 2

a RABBIT! their real horse needs early speed to run after so that the race don"t get boring...then when stretch comes they let him go to the wire with interest in running fast!

Answer 3

Here in the UK, and I think the rest of Europe, the horse is known as a Pacemaker.

They help to set a steady rhythm for the owners 1st string horse and also can be used to employ legal tactics.

One occasion that sticks out for me was in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in 2001.  It was billed as the rematch between Fantastic Light (Godolphin) and Galileo (Coolmore).  The Coolmore pacemaker Ice Dancer went off far too quickly and the Godolphin pacemaker Give the Slip set the steady pace that was needed with Fantastic Light sitting in just behind him.  Coming around the final bend, as the pacemakers began to tire, Give the Slip was pulled off the rail to allow Fantastic Light to get a run up the inside.

Galileo, who had been sitting in behind the pacemaker, was forced to come wide.  Fantastic Light held on by a head.

On some occasions the pacemaker will actually win the race.  A few years ago Godolphin ran a pacemaker called Summoner for their very talented miler Noverre.  They set off at a furious pace and the pacemaker held on to win at 33-1!

In France the betting is altered to so that any horse that is run as pacemaker is "coupled" with the 1st string horse.  That way if the pacemaker wins the Pari-Mutuel (French Tote) pay out is the same as if the 1st string had won.

Answer 4

LONE "F"  (pacesetter) "sets up race for Closer"

Answer 5

the set up?  lol :)

Answer 6

th wabbit

Answer 7

That horse is called a rabbit (in the U.S.)

This tactic was used last weekend to try to beat War Pass.

Inner Light was told to go right after War Pass and set the race up for Court Vision.

Well, War Pass got beaten, but by Anak Nakal.  Court Vision's run was a little late, and he finished third.

Answer 8

Typically when a horse is entered in a race to set the pace and set up the race for another horse, then the speed horse is called the Rabbit.

Answer 9

it depends which part of the world you live in as the poster above has said in the states its called the rabbit in england its known as a pacemaker

Answer 10

RABBIT.....TO KEEP THE PACE HONEST!!!