Pace and fatigue

Question
Don, I think I have 3 related questions but am not really sure how to best ask them.  Assuming that the jockey establishes a pace for his horse that is some percentage 搆?of [A]; its natural 搈aximum speed?when it is fresh, and later 搑eleases?the horse to [B]; the maximum speed of which it is then capable ?how does [B] compare to [A], assuming the horse has not yet started to decelerate?

I logically know that it depends on the percentage 搆?and how far it is between the two points, ?and but I sure would appreciate some additional insights.

Along the same lines, the second question is: 揾ow does 搆?affect the point in the race at which the horse begin to decelerate??br>
The last question is: 揹oes 搆?also affect the horse抯 rate of deceleration, once it starts??br>
You might say that I抦 interested in the utility of conserved energy ?all I know is that if I ran a long race and went too fast in the beginning, I couldn抰 finish the race without taking a break ?or walking and if I paced myself so as to be able to run at a relatively constant speed for most of the race, I did better but I didn抰 have nearly as much left when I tried to go full speed as I thought I would.

I assume it抯 the same with horses but figure that horsemen and trainers have some really good insights on the subject.

As an aside, I discussed the subject of changing leads with a friend who said that how the Jockey handles "Changing Leads" is what separates the "men" from the "boys".

Thanks and regards,

Bob  

Answer
Hi Bob,
      I get asked a lot of simple stuff for kids class projects but your questions really make me put my thinking hat on!
Firstly, your last comment from your friend about sorting men from boys. Changing leads is just a 'learned behavior', its not some deep secret that only a few know. We have kids at our local pony club who can get on almost any horse and within a few minutes can have their mount responding to pressure and motion signals, the fore runner to teaching new tricks.
The simplest example is just by leaning forward in the saddle, increasing the wither pressure and a slight slackening of the reign most horse, even without training will respond by increasing pace.
There are of course various degrees of cooperation between man and horse although man usually has the ultimate persuader, the whip!, or maybe the horse does with the buck that tips the man to the ground!!

Your question about stamina is a bio-mechanical and metabolic formula and probably beyond my modest knowledge. I suggest you try some of the equine research facilities who deal in this stuff every day.
Try www.searchnz.co.nz (our best local search engine) and enter massey equine. this will access Massey University equine research facility.
You could also try two very respected research institutes in your country, Cornell Uni and Kentucky Equine Research. There will be others but theses are top draw.

Some clever person will have a mathematical formula to explain this, e=mc2, however in practice not many trainers and even less jockeys would make a speed /stamina decision based on numbers. Most do it literally by the seat of their pants.
An important element of training is aerobic and anaerobic training. It all has to do with the amount of lactic acid in the body and how to best use the power available from it.
That would suggest that it all begins in the feed bin and ends at the finish line.
The heaviness in your legs after you have run a testing distance is caused by lactic acid or the absence of it. Horses operate on a similar system so they too feel the heaviness at the business end of a race.
A horse that has to sprint from the outside stall to get on the fence will be unlikely to have the same burst of speed left at the end.
The knowledgable jockey will report to the trainer after the race that ?had to use him up at the beginning and he had nothing left in the straight"
The inexperienced one will use excuse number 47 and say "he'll be better with the run and will be close next time".
Fuel   training / (jockeys applied knowledge) * luck = Champagne. Hows that for a scientific formula.

Thanks for the question, its been fun answering it, seriously though have a look at the equine research boys, they know far more about this than I do.
Regards,
Don