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burtonk
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Hi folks,
I'm new here and I am looking for some help with calculations for a horse racing article that I am writing.
I don't specifically know how to tackle the problem; which is "Does one length* (see glossary below) equal the industry standard 0.2 seconds, and does a change in the time it takes to complete a race create any variances in the given time of one length.
I'd specifically like to know if one length equals 0.2 seconds in comparison to races that have historically been getting faster throughout the years.
Things to consider:
**Length: The distance from a horses nose to its tail, which is about 8 feet (2.4384 meters). It is also distance between horses in a race.
Extras:
-Each race is 1 mile in length and is started at full speed (see example video: )
-The standard race time in 1960 was 2 minutes 30 seconds for a one mile harness racing race.**
-The standard race time in 1985 was 2 minutes 0 seconds.*
-The standard race time in 2014 was 1 minutes 50 seconds.*
*Estimates only.
**Harness racing is less popular form of horse racing (eg, Secretariat, Seabiscuit, etc), but I'll use it as a basis because each race is started at full speed.**
Let's assume that acceleration is 0m/s as horses start at full speed and continue at the same speed throughout a race. This isn't realistic, but will likely help make calculations easier.
The understanding is that one length equals 0.2 seconds and then that assumption is used to calculate the time it takes for horses to finish each race. If the race was completed in 2 minutes 0 seconds and the 2nd place horse finished 5 lengths behind the winner, it is expected that the horse who was second finished the race in 2 minutes 1 second.
Please let me know if you need any other information. My background is in journalism and marketing, so I'm obviously out of my league with this task--hence why I have come to Physics Forum for help!
Contributions will be credited in all publications.
Thanks in advance!
-burtonk
I'm new here and I am looking for some help with calculations for a horse racing article that I am writing.
I don't specifically know how to tackle the problem; which is "Does one length* (see glossary below) equal the industry standard 0.2 seconds, and does a change in the time it takes to complete a race create any variances in the given time of one length.
I'd specifically like to know if one length equals 0.2 seconds in comparison to races that have historically been getting faster throughout the years.
Things to consider:
**Length: The distance from a horses nose to its tail, which is about 8 feet (2.4384 meters). It is also distance between horses in a race.
Extras:
-Each race is 1 mile in length and is started at full speed (see example video: )
-The standard race time in 1960 was 2 minutes 30 seconds for a one mile harness racing race.**
-The standard race time in 1985 was 2 minutes 0 seconds.*
-The standard race time in 2014 was 1 minutes 50 seconds.*
*Estimates only.
**Harness racing is less popular form of horse racing (eg, Secretariat, Seabiscuit, etc), but I'll use it as a basis because each race is started at full speed.**
Let's assume that acceleration is 0m/s as horses start at full speed and continue at the same speed throughout a race. This isn't realistic, but will likely help make calculations easier.
The understanding is that one length equals 0.2 seconds and then that assumption is used to calculate the time it takes for horses to finish each race. If the race was completed in 2 minutes 0 seconds and the 2nd place horse finished 5 lengths behind the winner, it is expected that the horse who was second finished the race in 2 minutes 1 second.
Please let me know if you need any other information. My background is in journalism and marketing, so I'm obviously out of my league with this task--hence why I have come to Physics Forum for help!
Contributions will be credited in all publications.
Thanks in advance!
-burtonk
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