"X" marks the spot

[colt]

JB/AB,

I have noticed recently that the thoro-patterns are not in sinc with the established definition of an \"X\" race.   I will cut to the chase and point out 2 examples from last Saturday at SA.

VENTURA (Race# 9) - 1.75 on 1/31/09, which accounts for the \"X\" after the huge negative 2.25 on 10/24/08 >>>Previous Top 3, Top-Top-X (1.25,-2.25, 1.75)


STREAM CAT (Race# 10) - 4.5 on 1/19/09, accounts for the \"OFF\" after previous top of 0.5 on 9/29/07>>>Previous Top 0.5, X-Off-Off (8.75, 1.75, 4.5)

Note - both horses were 4 points off their established top.  What is the official definition of an \"X\" race?

[TGAB]

The official definition of an \"X\" effort is more than 4 points worse than the top in question. Our written definition says 4 or more points. That\'s wrong and will be changed. Good catch. Must admit some red here. I suppose the good news is that the statistic was correct as shown.