Can he do it?

[Twitchin Kitten]

0

you confuse me. "Full bore down the back and to the wire" is going to exhaust him. He'll have nothing for the stretch. This is a 1 1/2 mile race and it's going to be hot out.

Better to pace him. I want to see him win too!

Do you have any idea how hard it is to hold a Thoroughbred back? They're trained differently than other horses. They're taught to lean into the bit and that means the jockey pulls on the reins, where that action to the rest of the riding horse world, including Standardbreds (trotters and pacers), means to slow down. Most times if they have a horse who's running 'too hot' they'll keep him behind a slower animal to force them to slow down.

Being on top of a Thoroughbred is the most intense thing and I've gotten the privilege to do it only three times in my life. Never come out of the gate though. Just breezing or play racing and that's crazy enough! Nevermind trotters and pacers sitting in that sulky! That's crazy shit too. I've done that a few times and raced Standardbreds behind and on top in the saddle. Never for a 'real' race. Just breezing, practice runs, timing, training etc. But we get them up to full speed. If you don't wear goggles your eyes water like mad!