one mile and 70 yards ?

Question
Where did the length 1 mile and 70 yards originate?

Answer
Hello:

Let me begin by apologizing to you for your unanswered question - I have been on vacation for two weeks and didn't tell the folks at all experts - my first mistake.  Secondly, when I went through my long list of received e-mails upon my return, I mistakenly deleted your email - thanks to the folks at all experts, I was reminded that I have an unanswered question.

Thanks for your question - I'm not sure exactly where the distance of one mile and 70 yards came from, nor one mile and 40 yards like they have at Tampa Bay. I'm sure there is an answer to your question somewhere, but I just have not been able to find it and I have done some heavy research.  It probably began at one of the early tracks and simply stayed there for the duration.  I hate to provide real long answers, but I am providing the information below to help assist you in race distances.  

In Thoroughbred racing, race distances are measured in furlongs. A furlong is simply an eighth of a mile. Distances can be broken up into sixteenths of a mile梐 half-furlong梐nd even yards as well. (For example, some races are contested at 1 1/16 miles or a mile and seventy yards.# Around the world, distances can range from as short as two furlongs #a quarter mile# to three, even four miles. Most of the longest races are contested overseas, over hurdles or fences. In North America, the most commonly run distance is six furlongs. This distance, as well as any under one mile, is considered a sprint. The most important sprint race in North America, the Breeders?Cup Sprint, is held at that most common distance each year.

Most American races are held from six furlongs to a mile and an eighth #nine furlongs#. Races from eight to nine furlongs are considered 搈iddle distance?races here, while those a mile and three-sixteenths and over are not as commonly seen, particularly on dirt and synthetic tracks. But the varying surfaces will be addressed in an upcoming post.

In the U.S., 1 ?miles #ten furlongs# is considered the 揷lassic?distance. Many American horses these days, particularly those bred for dirt, lack the stamina in their pedigrees or patience in running style to effectively carry their speed over this entire distance. Those that can excel at 1 ?miles are considered to possess good stamina. The Kentucky Derby, Hollywood Gold Cup, Pacific Classic, Santa Anita Handicap, Jockey Club Gold Cup, and Breeders?Cup Classic #the richest race in North America# are among America抯 most prestigious stakes events, and each are contested over this distance.

Most dirt horses never travel beyond 1 ?miles. In terms of stakes competition, a few high-quality dirt races are longer, but they are few and far between. The Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the U.S. Triple Crown, is the most well-known American race run over 1 ?miles. Nicknamed 搕he test of the champion?because of its grueling distance and its challenging placement at the end of the Triple Crown, the race is contested over twelve furlongs, or 1 ?miles.

In the world of turf racing, horses are a little more likely to be bred for longer distances. #Differences in breeding among horses geared toward varying surfaces will be discussed later as well.) Many of the top American turf events are a mile and a quarter or longer, though usually not more than 1 ?miles. The richest North American turf race is the 1 ?mile Breeders?Cup Turf. But still, most turf races here are not longer than 1 1/8 miles.

The distances at which a horse is most capable can vary by its age, fitness, physical attributes, and pedigree. For example, in early-season two-year-old races, distances can be as short as a quarter-mile, though they are more commonly run at three to 4 ?furlongs. The races gradually stretch out, and it is up to the young horse抯 trainer and the animal抯 performances to determine how far it is suited to run. While many horses are never competitive over one mile as they mature, some go on to prefer the middle to longer distances.

If a horse is just beginning a career or returning from a lengthy break, it may be entered in a shorter race to build up its fitness, then run longer next time out. But some horses are best at certain distances because their physical traits. As an example, Midnight Lute, the 2007 and 2008 Breeders?Cup Sprint winner, could have been a top middle distance horse had he not suffered recurring throat problems that interfered with his breathing. Because of these issues, he had trouble getting air after about a mile.

Other physical attributes can affect a horse抯 distance capabilities as well. Any number of conformational factors can play a part. Horses with a compact build and powerful hindquarters may be better suited for sprinting, while a longer, leaner animal may perform better in longer races. The list of conformational attributes goes on.

Finally, pedigrees can play a large part in a horse抯 distance preferences. American breeding tends to be speed-oriented, hence the abundance of sprint and middle-distance races. A horse whose sire and dam are speed influences is less likely to be capable at longer distances. Conversely, a horse with more distance capabilities in its pedigree will probably do better over a mile. Many Thoroughbreds are bred with both speed and stamina influences, and may be expected to handle middle distances, and possibly sprints and longer races as well. Each horse is very much an individual, and rarely does one of the above-mentioned factors alone determine a runner抯 best distance.

This is a general overview of the question of distances is horse racing, and how horses can be suited to those different distances. When watching a race, it is helpful to consider the varying factors that can determine a horse抯 placement in a race at that distance梩he reasons are often layered, and are definitely not arbitrary.

I hope this helps you understand racing distances, although I know the answer to your question is not included, and please forgive me for the lateness of this reply.

Regards,

Jim