Ask Andy

[Silver Charm]

I saw where Andy Beyer was retiring from his position with the Washington Post. Now that Joe Hirsch has retired from the DRF wouldn't Beyer be a natural fit as a turf writer for that publication. The Post had too broad of a readership for someone who has his horse racing specific knowledge base. This venue would allow him to reach more readers who really want to know what he thinks on racing topics.

If that type of opportunity doesn't exist perhaps Beyer could do a little Q & A routine with DRF readers where we could ask him questions such as:

Andy, if a horse breaks from the one hole in a two turn route and races on the rail the entire trip, deadheats with another runner who broke from the ten hole and raced five-wide the entire trip, assuming both received a 100 Beyer Speed should I believe that neither horse is faster than the other???

Just kidding Andy, you're a superstar and good luck in whatever you choose to do.

But I would be curious what your answer would bis.

>But I would be curious what your answer would bis.<

LOL.

I think it\'s pretty clear he would say they ran the exact same final time for the race, but who ran better would be dependent on whether the inside or outside was the best part of the track that day (and by how much) and what their early positions were given that specific pace. :-)

Seriously, if you\'ve read his books it couldn\'t be more obvious he thinks ground loss etc.. is important. He just likes to consider the impact of \"TRIP\" separately from the speed figure because there are subjective components to it.



Post Edited (01-14-04 13:22)

[Chuckles_the_Clown2]

I read all of Andy Beyer\'s books up until \"Beyer on Speed\". By that time I had come to the conclusion that I was a better handicapper and didn\'t think he had anything more to offer on the topic. I still haven\'t read it. Maybe I\'ll look for a copy in the public library. There was a time in the early/mid seventies when his speed figures allowed him to score regularly, but I read somewhere he realized that figures alone were not enough of an edge to maintain profitability. I\'d realized that much sooner than he did. The game has so many variables and you have to study (if not master) them all or you can\'t be successful in the long run. I\'ve never heard a pre race Beyer interview where he did not embarrass himself. I don\'t know how that is possible. I can\'t remember the last Derby winner he picked. I\'m not sure he has picked one. He did pick Ten Most Wanted this past year and that horse went on to prove he was top flight in the crop, but he picked him on Derby day.

What I love about Beyer are his stories. He is a wonderful writer and his stories are full of interesting information. The latest one about the Tampa Bay jockey that lost over 100 straight races as an example. I\'m sure the DRF will keep him in print.

CtC