What is the point of having a photo finish at one end of a race?

Question

when the starter gives a horse a 10 lengths start at the other. Yesterday's big hurdle race was an absolute farce, as are lots of these Walk in, Indian file starts. Is this the price we have to pay to prevent charging the tape? If so, this is a perfect example of throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Answer 1

the reason being people make bets on the outcome of a race not the start of a race. races  have been started like this since time immemorial and some riders actually like to start behind the rest of the field  for professional reasons . you don't have a valid argument that's how it works

Answer 2

That's why we have gates in the US.

Answer 3

after a few big loses, i might watch a chase, event

but will never wager on one...keep it flat with a

gate.

Answer 4

Have to admit that I basically agree with you. In flat racing out of the stalls, yes, a photo finish is useful even though I think it is getting to be too "exact". With National Hunt races where the horses tend to be too big and not trained for stalls then the fairest result would be as it was in days of old where the judge called the result, and something really close would rightly be called a dead heat.!!

Answer 5

Perhaps the jockeys orders were to drop the horse in behind and wait for a run.  It is not always the starters fault - sometimes the jockey is to blame for not getting the horse in the right position.

I agree that the start can make a huge difference in a flat race, but not in a National Hunt race.

Answer 6

i agree to an extent if its a good horse that steals 10 lengths at the start and its a front runner then yes that horse is going to be hard to peg back if ridden aggressively. whats that saying you can give weight and you can give start but you cant give weight and start