How to measure 'class' ?

The definition is a problem as class is rarely static, ex: Lohnro, a very classy horse who's 'class' was statically 'top class' throughout his career.

I believe that class is usually on the move, in either an upward direction due to ability etc, or a downward direction due to injury, age, over-racing, poor training, race placement etc.

Problems defining class arise when we use human equivalents for horses. With horses it is strictly $$$ winning ability that define class if we are to use it as a form factor.

Humans can be poor and have class or rich and have none at all, but never horses.

$$$ won I think would have to be the no. 1 class measurement as the greater the purse of a race the hotter the competition.

Time and weight just lead us back to $$$ won due to speed or weight carrying ability
Ditto for all measurements.

The older the horse the easier to work out it's class and vis-a-vis with young horses.

Average dollars earned per race usually sort out most class queries and the measure I generally use as a matter of ease. There are other more labor intensive or quicker computer program methods too. It's just a matter of choice rather than better/worse.

All other factors such as current form is another issue and handicapping factor along with many others and should be treated as such. What current form does tell us is the up/down direction of a hoses present 'class'.

A definitive 'class' factor [what some here are eluding too and trying to measure I think] can never be nailed to a horses backside. In most cases a horses class remains partially elusive due to it being always on the move.

Selecting a winner of a particular race is never just a matter of sorting out the class factor [although sometimes it is when faced with a class standout], but on the whole winners come from the better class runners.

Which one is the ongoing dilemma.

Cheers.


[ This Message was edited by: crash on 2004-05-01 08:32 ]