Distance of the Preakness?

[Holland Hacker]

I was looking at the Derby Preps on The Bloodhorse's Triple Crown Mania website http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/derby_preps.asp and noticed that the distance of the Preakness is wrong for the third year in a row. Last year I sent an e-mail to Steve Haskins and he corrected the distance. I just don't want to pester Mr. Haskins with this again, so I figured I would post it here.

Below is a excerpt from the list of races:

Withers Stakes (gr. III) 4-28 Aqu $150g 8
Derby Trial 4-28 CD $100a 7.5
Kentucky Derby Presented
by Yum! Brands (gr. I) 5-5 CD $2,000g 10
Lone Star Derby (gr. III) 5-12 LS $300g 8.5
Preakness Stakes (gr. I) 5-19 Pim $1,000g 9.75
Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) 5-20 Bel $200g 9
Belmont Stakes (gr. I) 6-9 Bel $1,000g 12

As you can see they have the race listed as being at 9.75 furlongs and unless this is some form of "new math" that makes the distance of the race 1 mile and 7/32s instead of the traditional 1 mile and 3/16ths. And I thought the BC Dirt mile being run at 1 mile and 70 years was wierd.

Me thinks someone wasn't really paying attention in math class.

8 furlongs = 1 mile

1 furlong = 1/8 = 2/16 = 4/32

1/2 furlong = 1/16 = 2/32

1/4 furlong = 1/32

Therefore:

9.5 furlongs = 1 mile and 3/16

9.75 furlongs = 1 mile and 7/32

Am I being a bit too anal here to let this bother me?

[randallscott35]

"Am I being a bit too anal here to let this bother me?"

Yes....Let the truth set you free.

[ArlJim78]

No you're not being too anal. This is a game where we all rely on accuracy in the data that we receive. You should expect that at least the distance would be correct on one of America's Classic races.

Little things like that bother me too.

Of course there are some that say i'm a little anal sometimes.

[Travis Stone]

I'm assuming that's just a typo.

[Linny]

Bloodhorse often list races at 1m70y as 1.32 miles. I wonder if they'll do so once the Breeders' Cup 1m70yds is carded?

[slotdirt]

I was just thinking how interesting it's going to be to have this expanded Breeders Cup in a place that doesn't do well with a lot of traffic in the first place.

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by Holland Hacker

Am I being a bit too anal here to let this bother me?

nope not IMO...but I have been known to be very anal on occasion

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by Holland Hacker

Am I being a bit too anal here to let this bother me?

Nope, it bothers me too. Speaking of which, adding fractions is a blast from the past. I haven't even thought about common denominators in a decade. LOL

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

nope not IMO...but I have been known to be very anal on occasion

You?....Never