Quick Tempo won his first race going 4 1/2 furlongs at Arlington on 8/20. He was quick to the lead, dueled with the $400,000 Daredevil colt, and cruised home with only a tap on the shoulder. The field had been scratched down to only 5 horses.
The immediate reaction way joy and excitement over such a nice win. Then reality set in when looking a the time of the race, it was reported as 23.46, 47.82, 54.56. That is dreadfully slow, and did not seem to match the race I just watched. However, I must admit I had never watched a 2 year old race at Arlington before, so I was not exactly how to judge the time.
The good news came the next when Dare to Dream guys reported QT came out the race in good shape.
The even better news was the Dare to Dream guys had called Equibase to challenge the timing of the race, and Equibase quickly admitted there had been an error. The new time was:
21.45. 45.29 51.89 Quick Tempo’s actual time
22.61 45.11. 51.16. Dawanie Macho’s track record for 4 1/2 furlongs on 6/12/2010
Students of pace handicapping might even judge QT’s race as faster because of the very fast early fraction. Dawanie Macho was sold who to Gary Barber who won the Landaluce Stakes in the next start at Del Mar.
How could Arlington Park miss the timing of a race by about 3 full seconds. I am sure we will never know.
Buying A Race Horse 