Question from Jim, a measurer:
Hi Pete,
I have a question for you.
A race director is going to be putting a 3 mile race around the Stark County Horse track (supposed to be .5 mile) which I went ahead and measured and found it to be 20' 7 1/16" short. My question is - it is all unpaved with the grass right up to the track and I am afraid that when they take their equipment and drag the track to make it smooth they could take some grass away and thus make the track even shorter. Can I still go ahead and have it certified?
Jim
Pete’s reply:
Dear Jim,
I could bend the rules, but on what you describe I can't see any way to get it certified. One option could be a this-year-only certification, but this puts the registrar in the position of keeping an eye on the expiration instead of having it expire automatically.
Perhaps a big note on the course map with "valid for 2010 race only" would do the job.
As for it being short, that depends on the offset from the inner border. A horse and sulky take up more width that does a runner, the offset for whom is only a foot. With the proper offset the course could well be OK for horses.
I am going to post this on the Course Measurement Bulletin Board, and also pass it on to Gene Newman, who will have final say. Let’s see what others have to say.
Best, Pete
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