Winning margins in horse races?

Question

Just finished watching the Preakness where the race was "won by a nose". Are there any closer margins of winning defined for horse racing? I told my wife that there probably weren't since even a nose is only a couple of inches and the resolution of the race cameras might not allow closer margins. However, I'm always willing to be educated on these things.

Answer 1

When a horse gallops, it's head "bobs" up and down. In a tight finish , the winning horse just luckely "bobs" down at that moment touching the

finish wire ,while it's opponent is unfortunately  moving it's head upward, away from the wire. Thus winning or losing by a nose.

Technology today allows for extremely good camera resolution at the finish, as it should, since betting interests are involved.

A "dead heat" (DH) occurs when two noses touch the finish line at the same time.

Check out this website photo:

http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/trip...

Answer 2

Today was a head, but a nose is the smallest description.

After those two they go to lengths which is approximately the length of a horse or the distance between the poles on the racetrack rail.

This always looks a little smaller than the length of a horse .

Sometimes  you will hear that a horse has won by 1and1/2 lengths or even a 1/4 or 3/4 with the number of lengths quite possibly being more of course.

If you are handicapping a race a general rule is that 1 length is equal to 1/5 of a second.

I am not sure about the weight anymore because it's been a long time for me but I think 1 pound is equal to 1 length or 1/5 of a second at least in races of 5 or 6 furlongs.

Over longer distances the weight is more crucial and the numbers change.

I used to know all this stuff but you could check it out in some old handicapping books.

Answer 3

I guess there's always winning by a hair.  But it all seriousness, after viewing the replay several times, it was pretty obvious that curlin won.  Too bad though, I was hoping street sense would have won again.  Anything less than a nose probably would end in a tie I imagine.

Answer 4

the margins are nose, neck, head, 1/2, 3/4, length. seen some photo finishes that were seperated by what seemed like nose hair

Answer 5

Nose will be the smallest notation for margin of victory. Once in a while you'll see a "Dead Heat" tie. The photos for the photo finishes you see are actually from a video camera pointed at that mirror you see at the finish line, so they are very accurate, more that a normal camera could ever be, so resolution is not even a factor.