RACING Q & A

Question: “I recently read that Isaac Murphy, the great black jockey of the 1880s, rode 44% winners. How does this compare with the best of the moderns?”

Answer: Ike Murphy, a Hall of Fame jockey, was one of the best to ever ride in America. He had 628 winners from 1,412 mounts at a time when there wasn’t nearly as much racing as there is today. Bill Shoemaker, another all-time great, has ridden at a percentage of 22% for his 40 years of riding, with about 8,800 winners from almost 40,000 mounts. Eddie Arcaro rode at almost 20% winners over 31 seasons, while Johnny Longden rode at 18.6% winners for 40 seasons. Angel Cordero Jr.’s winning percentage for 27 seasons is slightly above 18%.

Q: “In handicapping the races, I often rely on the best previous times of the horses in the race at the distance in question. What do you think of this system?”

A: “I believe it depends a good deal on the type of race,” says Hall of Fame trainer Leroy Jolley. “If you are talking about a cheap claiming race, it is important to remember that cheap horses are not consistent. They can turn in a fast race on one occasion and a slow race the next time out. Good horses are consistent and best times are a more reliable guide with better horses. However, I feel best times are only one factor that should go into a sensible system. There are a number of other factors to consider, including class, track conditions, riders, etc.”

Q: “When the chart says a horse raced wide, how wide did the horse race?”

A: “I use the term ‘wide’ when a horse is outside four or five horses,” says Jack Wilson, veteran trackman for Daily Racing Form who calls the charts for the Triple Crown races and other important events throughout the country. “When a horse is three horses wide of the rail, I won’t say he is ‘wide’ but will say he is ‘well out from the rail.’ If a horse is six, seven or eight horses wide, I’ll attempt to describe that to the readers of Daily Racing Form by saying he was ‘extremely wide.’ ”

Q: “Who makes the decision whether or not to switch a race from the grass to the dirt because of weather conditions?”

A: The responsibility for this decision varies from track to track and jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In many areas it has become the custom for the track superintendent to inspect the turf course on the morning of a race, then inform the stewards of his opinion, based on forecasts. The stewards may, but rarely will, overrule. Occasionally, the jockeys will also lodge an opinion, and may object to riding if weather or course conditions appear perilous.