Questions about Jockey's and their logic

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by DogsUp

I just watch the Sorority Stakes at Monmouth. The 2 gets the lead and moves off the rail a little. The 3 horse (fav) moves up along the inside of the 2 horse. My question is why would a jockey purposely move his/her horse (especially a 2 year old) to the inside of a horse only to get pinned down on the rail? I see this sort of strategy all the time and it rarely works at the beginning or even half way point of the race. I can understand shooting through the rail when coming down the stretch, but I cannot understand that move at any other place in the race. Does anyone have any idea why jocks continually do this? And please have a educated answer....dont post because they are dumb, or jocks dont care, etc etc. Thanks

Okay, i just lost on that race (had the 2). Remember, at monmouth, the rail is the best part of the track. Going to the inside serves two purposes: it saves ground and it gets you to the best part of the track (the latter not always true).

Remember also that riding a horse isnt like driving a car. Horses have minds of their own (especially 2 year olds!) and at times the jockey has little choice but to go with what the horse wants to do (ie duck in).