Beyer Speed Figure
Encyclopedia
The Beyer Speed Figure is a system for rating the performance of Thoroughbred
racehorses
in North America
designed in the early 1970s by Andrew Beyer
, the syndicated horse racing columnist for The Washington Post
. First published in book form in 1975, by 1992 the Daily Racing Form
began incorporating Beyer Speed Figures in a horse's past performances and the system has evolved to where today each performance by every horse is given a Beyer number which reflects the time of the race and the inherent speed of the track over which it was run. On the Beyer scale, the top stakes
horses in the United States and Canada earn numbers in the 100's, while extremely strong performances may rate as high as the 120's.
In Europe
, Timeform
has a different set up that yields a different rating number. The popular rule of thumb for a rough equivalent of the Timeform score is to deduct 12-14 points to achieve the Beyer figure.
In 2004, Ghostzapper
earned the high Beyer Speed Figure at 128. In the July 5, 2005 Hollywood Gold Cup
, Lava Man
turned in a speed figure of 120. Bordonaro earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 119 in winning the 2006 Ancient Title
Handicap which was the highest number assigned to any North American horse in 2006. But it was Groovy
, the 1987 American Champion Sprint Horse who won the highest figure of all, earning 131 & 134 back-to-back in the Roseben
and True North Handicap
s at six furlongs in 1987, a record that is still unbeaten.
In 2007 the highest Beyers Speed Figure was 124 assigned to Midnight Lute
in the 7 furlong Forego Handicap
at Saratoga Race Course
.
In the 2008 Whitney Handicap
, Commentator
scored a 120 Beyer. Over his career he has earned Beyers of 119, 121, and 123. Andy Beyer said he can’t recall a 7-year-old getting that high a number.
Beyer calculated that had the Beyer Speed Figure calculation existed during the proper time frame, Secretariat
would have earned a figure of 139 for his 1973 win at the Belmont Stakes.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorses
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
designed in the early 1970s by Andrew Beyer
Andrew Beyer
Andrew Beyer is an American expert on horse race betting who designed what has become known as the Beyer Speed Figure.In the early 1970s, while working for the Washington Daily News, Beyer did extensive work on the concept of speed figures and wrote books that helped popularize their use...
, the syndicated horse racing columnist for The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
. First published in book form in 1975, by 1992 the Daily Racing Form
Daily Racing Form
The Daily Racing Form is a tabloid newspaper founded in 1894 in Chicago, Illinois by Frank Brunell. The paper publishes the past performances of race horses as a statistical service for bettors on horse racing in the United States....
began incorporating Beyer Speed Figures in a horse's past performances and the system has evolved to where today each performance by every horse is given a Beyer number which reflects the time of the race and the inherent speed of the track over which it was run. On the Beyer scale, the top stakes
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
horses in the United States and Canada earn numbers in the 100's, while extremely strong performances may rate as high as the 120's.
In Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Timeform
Timeform
Timeform Publications is a publishing company in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England founded in 1948 to provide information to fans, bettors, and others involved in the horse racing industry...
has a different set up that yields a different rating number. The popular rule of thumb for a rough equivalent of the Timeform score is to deduct 12-14 points to achieve the Beyer figure.
In 2004, Ghostzapper
Ghostzapper
Foaled in Kentucky on April 6 in the year 2000, the thoroughbred racehorse Ghostzapper won the Breeders' Cup Classic in 2004, outdistancing Roses in May by three lengths in a stakes record of 1:59.02...
earned the high Beyer Speed Figure at 128. In the July 5, 2005 Hollywood Gold Cup
Hollywood Gold Cup
The Hollywood Gold Cup is an American Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred horses inaugurated in 1938 at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. It was run as a handicap race until 1997 when it was switched to weight-for-age conditions...
, Lava Man
Lava Man
Lava Man is a dark bay thoroughbred gelding by Slew City Slew out of L'il Ms. Leonard . He who rose from the lowest levels of race horse claiming races to become regarded by many racing fans and members of the racing media as a legend in his own time...
turned in a speed figure of 120. Bordonaro earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 119 in winning the 2006 Ancient Title
Ancient Title
Ancient Title was an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse. Foaled in California, he was bred by William and Ethel Kirkland and raced under Ethel Kirkland's name following her husband's death in 1972...
Handicap which was the highest number assigned to any North American horse in 2006. But it was Groovy
Groovy (horse)
Groovy was an American Thoroughbred Champion sprint racehorse known for his love of jelly donuts. As at 2011, he is the last horse to break the 130 Beyer Speed Figure having accomplished that milestone in his first two starts of 1987. In the Roseben Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack he earned a 131...
, the 1987 American Champion Sprint Horse who won the highest figure of all, earning 131 & 134 back-to-back in the Roseben
Roseben Handicap
The Roseben Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually from 1940 through 1995. Hosted by Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, it was open to horses age three and older. A Grade III event at the time of its cancellation, it was contested on dirt over a distance of six...
and True North Handicap
True North Handicap
The True North Handicap is an American thoroughbred horse race run annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The race is a Grade II event, offering a purse of $200,000 and is open to three-year-olds and up willing to race six furlongs on dirt...
s at six furlongs in 1987, a record that is still unbeaten.
In 2007 the highest Beyers Speed Figure was 124 assigned to Midnight Lute
Midnight Lute
Midnight Lute is an American Thoroughbred stallion racehorse. He is owned by Michael E. Pegram and Watson and Weitman Performance, LLC, and was named for Lute Olson, the University of Arizona basketball coach....
in the 7 furlong Forego Handicap
Forego Handicap
The Forego Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Open to horses three years old and up, it is run at a distance of seven furlongs on the dirt...
at Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
.
In the 2008 Whitney Handicap
Whitney Handicap
The Whitney Handicap is an American Grade 1 handicap race for Thoroughbred racehorses three years of age and older run at a distance of 1⅛ miles. In 2007, the Breeders' Cup Ltd...
, Commentator
Commentator (horse)
Commentator , is an American Thoroughbred race horse by the stallion Distorted Humor, sire of 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide. Like Funny Cide, Commentator is a New York bred as well as a gelding...
scored a 120 Beyer. Over his career he has earned Beyers of 119, 121, and 123. Andy Beyer said he can’t recall a 7-year-old getting that high a number.
Beyer calculated that had the Beyer Speed Figure calculation existed during the proper time frame, Secretariat
Secretariat (horse)
Secretariat was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, that in 1973 became the first U.S. Triple Crown champion in 25 years, setting new race records in two of the three events in the Series—the Kentucky Derby , and the Belmont Stakes —records that still stand today.Secretariat was sired by Bold...
would have earned a figure of 139 for his 1973 win at the Belmont Stakes.
See also
- Speed indexSpeed indexSpeed index is a system of rating the performance of Quarter Horse racehorses. The American Quarter Horse Association has used two systems over the history of Quarter Horse racing to evaluate racing performances. The original system used a letter grade, starting at D, then C, B, A and the...
, speed rating system for Quarter HorseAmerican Quarter HorseThe American Quarter Horse is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name came from its ability to outdistance other breeds of horses in races of a quarter mile or less; some individuals have been clocked at speeds up to 55 mph...
racing.