| When I first started betting on horse races they were | | | | may have little or no effect but as the fields get bigger |
| started by the starter release of a tape across the | | | | it can be an important factor in who wins the race. |
| course and then all the horses charging off. Often this | | | | Even in sprints on straight courses the draw can play |
| resulted in bad starts and horse missing the break and | | | | an important part in how a race is run. In these types |
| losing their chances of wining before the race had | | | | of sprint races with large fields the horses tend to split |
| really started. To overcome this problem starting stalls | | | | into two groups one on each side of the course. If |
| were introduced for all flat racing in the UK. | | | | most of the fast horses are on one particular side of |
| With the advent of starting stall the draw was | | | | the course they will tend to pull away from the group |
| introduced to allocate which stall each horse would | | | | on the other side. If you horse is in this slower group he |
| occupy. The draw can have a major affect on a | | | | will find it hard to mount a challenge in the closing |
| horse's chances of winning a race so it is worth | | | | stages of the race because the others will be too far |
| considering this when having a bet. The affect can be | | | | ahead. |
| even more pronounced on sharp turning tracks such | | | | The longer a race is the less important the draw will |
| as Chester. | | | | be. In a middle or long distance race the jockey has |
| Unlike athletic races were the start is staggered so | | | | the opportunity to get into the position he or she wants |
| that each runner covers the same distance horses on | | | | to be despite the draw. In sprint races it is far more |
| the outside of the track will have to run further than | | | | frantic and horses need to be well away from the |
| those close to the inner rail. In small fields the draw | | | | stalls if they are to get into a position to win the race. |