i notice on metropolitan racetracks that Beaten Length measurements are painted onto the running rail in the home straight.

does anyone know what the length of these 'Beaten Length lines' are? is there an industry standard used throughout Australia?

also, how many lengths equates to one second? the Americans use the standard 1 Sec = 5 Lengths. yet, some Australians use the standard 1 Sec = 6 Lenghths.

anyone have their own opinion?

this information will help me calculate my Weight Effect table.

thx.

tulloch, u definately have to use the same method for each class of race. however, i do not do speed ratings anymore. the main reason is, that par times for each distance vary from racetrack to racetrack. i do not have the database/time/money to check thru say 5 yrs worth of results from each track to calculate par times for every distance. but thats what a speed rater would need to do.

also, yesterday saw the opening of the revamped Randwick. the par times for this track are now obsolete. new pars would need to be calculated. how are the speed raters gonna deal with that?

what i want to know is a "Length" a defined unit of distance, say like 3m.

u are definately right about the 'easing factor', tulloch. jockeys do stop riding horses home sometimes, therefore, they run slower/ rate lower than they should have. alert punters must be awake to this.

I chased this up a few year ago and it took a long time to get an answer from anyone.
I finally receive word back from the ajc that 1 length = 2.85m
I have used this ever since for time based calculations and I hope it is correct.

thank you Pete !

that calculation is close to my own estimation, of 2.90m.

good punting bro.