I want to know how to compare dirt numbers to turf numbers. It appears, that a horse running on the turf with the same level of effort will earn a number 2-3 pts higher than the same effort on the dirt. Another way I can ask a related question, if horse A is consistantly running -5s on the turf, same track, same distance, etc; and horse B is consistantly running 2s at the same track, distance, etc and both are equally bred to run on the turf. What would the dirt horse run on the turf with the same level of effort as he has been giving on the dirt? Is there a rule of thumb for this conversion? I realize there are no absolutes, I am only looking for the typical outcome. Hopefully, my question is clearly stated.
I don\'t think there is any rule of thumb-- horses either run on a surface or don\'t, and the pedigree info may be of use, but only in general terms, not specific ones.
On the question of dirt and grass numbers being on the same scale-- at some point when all the other programming smoke clears, we will run a study on this question. The intent (and I believe the reality) is that the scales are the same. The number it takes to win the various claiming levels is different, because the claiming scale for grass is inflated (very few cheap claimers). There is also the question of grass pedigrees going to Europe. So we will do some kind of computer run based on the figures on a horse by horse basis, if we can figure out the right questions to ask, and make an adjustment if necessary.
That answer helps tremendously, I thought I was missing something. I have no substantive reason to put this notion forward, but I have intuitively determined that a horse running a 4 on the dirt would run a -7 on the turf, again, everything else being equal, breeding,distance,trip, etc. I had no way of determining if there was a rule of thumb so I guess I was streching. It was especially perplexing because I know the average turf coarse in the US is faster than dirt so you would expect that a turf number would be faster than a dirt number not slower. Just my insights after using your sheets extensively for many years. I mostly buy the sheets at the track so you probably don\'t realize how loyal a customer a truely am. I wish you had them at Monmouth in their off season because I have to drive 30 minutes each way, to freehold to buy them. Great product though or I wouldn\'t do it.
Why not buy them on line?
I do occassionally, but the printing takes forever.
Get a Samsung Laser ML1710, about $100 at your Best Buy. 18ppm knocks \'em out real quick.
Thanks, I will look into it.