Motion & Stride Length Analysis of Race Videos

Motion & Stride Length Analysis Of Race Videos

Metrics Equine utilizes the same basic approach as our BreezeFigs services in analyzing videos of actual races to determine stride lengths and quality of motion for horses that have already raced and which are on the market - in North or South America, Europe and Australia or New Zealand.

We also introduce another factor, Stamina Score, which gives an indication of whether the horse may be able to go longer successfully or is currently running at its optimum distance. We almost always recommend that to confirm that the client subject the sale to our Cardio Score process.

At the right is a streaming video from ESPN wherein Director of Operations Jay Kilgore analyzes the stride length of the great Zenyatta. This video gives an excellent outline of our process and ends with the statement that Zenyatta's stride length may be only four inches longer than the horse that finished second but that equaled a winning margin of 15 feet.

Example Of An Actual Motion Analysis

Belmont Park ~ Maiden Special Weight ~ 6 ½ Furlongs
Stride Length (SL) at maximum = 25.3 feet
Stamina Score (SS) = 103 ~ Quality Grade = A-

Stamina Score (SS) is calculated by comparing stride length at various points during the race. A score below 100 indicates two things. 1) The horse is tiring as he nears the wire, or 2) the rider is saving his horse. However, a score of 100 or above denotes the horse is lengthening his stride at the end of the race. This indicates the horse could and should run at longer distances and be effective. This colt falls into this latter category.

This colt breaks well and moves to the front with ease. After one furlong he has the lead by a half a length. His galloping stride length at this portion of the race is over 24.25 feet. This colt has a good rhythm and cadence and a very good motion quality.

Moving around the turn and into the homestretch, this colt keeps the lead by a quarter to a half-length. He shows a very smooth lead change at the top of the stretch. He also has not been pushed by the jockey at any portion of the race. Once the colt changes leads he extends his stride length and starts to move away from his rivals.

With a closing stride length of 25.3 feet, this colt has lengthened his stride at the most opportune time of the race. There is very little curl to the lead front pasterns. The head on views down the backstretch and through the homestretch show very little paddle to either front leg. Also, around the turn this colt does not show the normal torque seen in most horses at that particular time of the race.

Overall this is a very nice and smooth moving horse. He has a long galloping stride length with very little push from the jockey. He does finish the race extending his stride length to a stakes caliber distance and he should be able to extend his racing distance as well.

This colt went on to win Listed as well as Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3 events at distances from just over a mile to 10 furlongs, earning well over $1 million.

Over the past decade, Metrics Equine has given favorable reports such as the one above to our clients
for many eventual stakes winners based on their maiden races, including:

Declaration of War (G1) ~ Haynesfield (G1) ~ Tourist ~ Dixie Band (G3) ~ Dublin (G1)
Hollinger (CAN) ~ Todo Un Amiguito (ARG) (G1) ~ Clearly Now (G3) ~ Euphrosyne (G3)
Falling Sky (G3) ~ Tantos Anos (ARG) (G1) ~ Long on Value (G2) ~ Le Grand Cru (G3)
Dozens more reports were also produced for races
in which horses won or placed in allowance or stakes races.