It's Test Time

_There seems to be a hot topic on one of my favorite blogs going on right now. The topic: speed figures. The place: Crist blog (see sidebar for link). Steve Crist addresses the misinformation. After reading the exchanges I felt inspired to add my own two cents. Speed Figures and their accuracy are always being questioned.

_I thought that since there seems to be such an overwhelming need for player education it might be helpful to test our skills. I’m going to use James Quinn’s book The ABC's of Thoroughbred Handicapping which provides the test questions and answers. We our going with an honor system here so if you have the book please don’t cheat.

_I’ll take two questions from the Minimum Competency Test and two from the Mastery Test.

_I will post the answers this weekend. Good luck…

Two Questions from the Minimum Competency Test

1. A thoroughbred can be expected to reveal its true speed when :
a. allowed to run alone on the front
b. it approaches the midpoint of its 4-year-old season
c. matched against horses of relative equal ability
d. in the peak of health and conditioning

2. Maiden-claiming horses in sprints are normally how much slower than winning horses of the same selling prices?
a. 3/5 second
b. one second
c. 1 3/5 seconds
d. 2 seconds

Two Questions from The Mastery Test

1. The adjustment to the 4up par for 3YO sprints of March is
a. slow 1
b. slow 3
c. slow 5
d. slow 7

2. Using proportional times to make speed figures, what is the value of one length in a 6F sprint timed in 1: 10 flat ?
a. 1.4 points
b. 2.8 points
c. 4.2 points
d. 5.6 points