The length is commonly used in Thoroughbredhorse racing, where it describes the distance between horses in a race. Horses may be described as winning by several lengths, as in the notable example of Secretariat, who won the 1973 Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths. In 2013, the New York Racing Association placed a blue-and-white checkered pole at Belmont Park to mark that winning margin; using Equibase's official measurement of a length—8 feet 2 inches (2.49 m)—the pole was placed 253 feet 2 inches (77.17 m) from the finish line.[2]
More often, winning distances are merely a fraction of a length, such as half a length. In British horse racing, the distances between horses are calculated by converting the time between them into lengths by a scale of lengths-per-second. The actual number of lengths-per-second varies according to the type of race and the going conditions. For example, in a flat turf race run on good going, a value of six lengths-per-second is used; in a national hunt race on heavy going, where horses are assumed to be moving more slowly, the value is four lengths-per-second.[3]
Other measures
Distances smaller than that are similarly described in reference to the equine body with terms such as a "neck",[1] and a "head", a "short head" or "nose", the smallest possible named advantage by which a horse can win. In Ireland a margin of more than 30 lengths is described as a "distance". In the United Kingdom, the maximum recognised distance is 99 lengths, with anything over this being referred to as "99+ lengths". In France the term "short neck" is used for a margin intermediate between a head and a neck. Harness race finishing margins are typically measured in meters.
Other uses
These terms are used in other disciplines of equestrianism as well. It is particularly useful as a guide for riders in spacing animals apart when a number of them are all together in a riding arena such as during group riding instruction or at a horse show.
Abbreviations
In reporting result of horse races winning margins are commonly abbreviated:
^ ab"Glossary of Horse Racing Terms". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
^"NYRA Places Secretariat Belmont Margin Pole". The Blood Horse. June 7, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
^Kerr, Tom. "How long is a length? It's a bit like a piece of string". Racing Post. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
January 03, 2023
horse, length, horse, length, simply, length, unit, measurement, length, horse, from, nose, tail, approximately, feet, contents, horse, racing, other, measures, other, uses, abbreviations, also, referencesuse, horse, racing, editthe, length, commonly, used, th. A horse length or simply length is a unit of measurement for the length of a horse from nose to tail approximately 8 feet 2 4 m 1 Contents 1 Use in horse racing 2 Other measures 3 Other uses 4 Abbreviations 5 See also 6 ReferencesUse in horse racing EditThe length is commonly used in Thoroughbred horse racing where it describes the distance between horses in a race Horses may be described as winning by several lengths as in the notable example of Secretariat who won the 1973 Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths In 2013 the New York Racing Association placed a blue and white checkered pole at Belmont Park to mark that winning margin using Equibase s official measurement of a length 8 feet 2 inches 2 49 m the pole was placed 253 feet 2 inches 77 17 m from the finish line 2 More often winning distances are merely a fraction of a length such as half a length In British horse racing the distances between horses are calculated by converting the time between them into lengths by a scale of lengths per second The actual number of lengths per second varies according to the type of race and the going conditions For example in a flat turf race run on good going a value of six lengths per second is used in a national hunt race on heavy going where horses are assumed to be moving more slowly the value is four lengths per second 3 Other measures EditDistances smaller than that are similarly described in reference to the equine body with terms such as a neck 1 and a head a short head or nose the smallest possible named advantage by which a horse can win In Ireland a margin of more than 30 lengths is described as a distance In the United Kingdom the maximum recognised distance is 99 lengths with anything over this being referred to as 99 lengths In France the term short neck is used for a margin intermediate between a head and a neck Harness race finishing margins are typically measured in meters Other uses EditThese terms are used in other disciplines of equestrianism as well It is particularly useful as a guide for riders in spacing animals apart when a number of them are all together in a riding arena such as during group riding instruction or at a horse show Abbreviations EditIn reporting result of horse races winning margins are commonly abbreviated United States Abbreviations Margin AbbreviationNose nsHead hdNeck nkHalf a length 1 2Three quarters of a length 3 4European Abbreviations Margin AbbreviationNose nseShort head shHead hdShort neck snkNeck nkHalf a length LThree quarters of a length LOne length 1LDistance dstSee also EditGlossary of equestrian terms Glossary of Australian and New Zealand punting horse racing terms List of unusual units of measurement Glossary of North American horse racingReferences Edit a b Glossary of Horse Racing Terms Daily Racing Form Retrieved November 26 2018 NYRA Places Secretariat Belmont Margin Pole The Blood Horse June 7 2013 Retrieved June 25 2020 Kerr Tom How long is a length It s a bit like a piece of string Racing Post Retrieved 8 December 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Horse length amp oldid 1063112327, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
