Chute (racecourse)
Encyclopedia
In horse racing
, the term chute refers to an extended path increasing the length of a straight portion of a racecourse, particularly an oval-shaped one, allowing races of a specified distance to start at a location other than on one of the turns.
For example, many racetracks in the United States
are exactly one mile (1,609 m) in circumference; often such racetracks are symmetrical ovals, with both straightaways and both turns being precisely ¼ of a mile (402 m) in length. Frequently, the finish line will be positioned exactly three-quarters of the way down the stretch; in that case, the point at which the first or "clubhouse" turn joins to the backstretch would be 5½ furlong
s (1,106 m) from the finish. In order to hold races at the distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 m) — the most common distance of American thoroughbred
horse races — the backstretch is extended by an extra 1/16 of a mile (101 m). This is the most common situation where a chute is pressed into service. At some tracks, this chute is longer, so that races can be run at 7 furlongs (1,408 m) as well.
Often a second chute will be placed at the top of the stretch, extending the length of the straightaway from the top of the stretch to the finish line from 3/16ths of a mile (302 m) to ¼ mile (402 m), thus allowing 1¼ mile (2,012 m) races to be run, and also make it possible for quarter horses
to run races at distances of up to 440 yards (402 m). At two tracks — Hialeah Park and Turf Paradise
— the chute that begins at the top of the stretch is even longer, so that there is a distance of 3 furlongs (604 m) from the beginning of the chute to the wire; so-called "baby races," or races for 2-year-olds run very early in the year, are started from this position.
Many one-mile (1,609 m) tracks have a turf (grass) course inside of the main (dirt) track, most commonly measuring 7 furlongs (1,408 m). This turf course will often be equipped with a chute of its own, extending diagonally from the stretch, to permit turf races to be run at the distance of 1 1/8 miles (1,811 m). This diagonal chute can either consist of a more-or-less straight line, or may curve significantly, in a counterclockwise direction. In 2006 two tracks — Monmouth Park and Hollywood Park Racetrack — added a chute extending diagonally from the backstretch, to permit races at 5½ furlongs and 6 furlongs, respectively (the corresponding circumferences of these two tracks' turf courses being 7 furlongs and 1 mile plus 145 feet).
Some American racetracks have circumferences of more (or, generally in the case of minor-circuit tracks, less) than one mile (1,609 m); examples include Aqueduct
, Arlington Park
, Hollywood Park Racetrack and Saratoga
, all of which are 1 1/8 mile (1,811 m) tracks, and Belmont Park
, the country's largest track, with a 1½-mile (2,414 m) circumference. The backstretch chutes at Aqueduct and Arlington Park are long enough to permit races to be run at one mile (1,609 m), while Saratoga's chute is shorter, extending only to 7 furlongs (1,408 m). Hollywood's chute formerly allowed one mile (1,609 m) races, but when its finish line was moved forward in the late 1980s one mile (1,609 m) races could no longer be accommodated, and 7½ furlongs (1,509 m) became the longest distance that could be run out of its chute (an unintended consequence
of this was that by the mid-2000s 7½-furlong [1,509 m] dirt races had gained considerable popularity in the United States
when such races had rarely if ever been run before at most tracks, even those where the track's configuration made it possible to do so). At Belmont, the chute permits races at distances up to 1 1/8 miles (1,811 m) to be run (formerly up to 1¼ miles [2,012 m], but this chute, which at one point crossed over the training track, was truncated in the late 1970s to eliminate the aforementioned cross-over, and today 1¼-mile [2,012 m] dirt races at Belmont actually start on the clubhouse turn, the only situation where races do this at any major American track). Belmont's outer (Widener) turf course also contains two chutes which separate from the beginning of the backstretch at an angle; races at distances of one mile (1,609 m) and 1 1/16 miles (1,710 m) are started from these chutes.
Rarely, a "half-chute" will be employed; in this instance, the chute will branch off from a turn, usually the clubhouse turn, at the midway point of the turn, and extend to a position level with that of the homestretch, the chute thus joining to the turn at a 90-degree angle. Currently only one racetrack of note in the United States — Ellis Park Racecourse in Kentucky
— makes use of such a chute, starting races from it at the distance of one mile (Ellis Park is a 1 1/8 mile [1,811 m] track). Formerly, Saratoga also had such a chute; it was known as the "Wilson Mile" chute, and like the one found at Ellis Park, it was used to start one mile (1,609 m) races. Use of the Wilson Mile chute was suspended in 1972; after being reinstated briefly in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the chute itself was dismantled, and as a result, it is now no longer possible to run main-track (dirt) races at Saratoga at any distance longer than 7 furlongs (1,408 m) but shorter than 1 1/8 miles (1,811 m). The "all-weather
" (dirt) track at England
's Wolverhampton Racecourse
has a similar chute, but it is used for 7-furlong races as the latter is a one-mile (1.6 km) track. The one-mile (1.6 km) dirt oval at Tampa Bay Downs
in Oldsmar, Florida
also once had a similar chute which permitted races at 7 furlongs; however, this chute extended diagonally from the backstretch and not on a 90-degree angle. In 2004 Tampa Bay Downs' backstretch chute was lengthened to 7 furlongs, whereupon the diagonal chute was decommissioned; however, remnants of it are still intact. Laurel Park
in Maryland
also formerly had a diagonal chute, which allowed for races at up to 1 1/16 miles.
Perhaps America's most distinctive horse racing chute is the El Camino Real Chute, located at Santa Anita
. Added in 1953, this is a downhill turf chute consisting of a straight section, a right turn (rare in modern American horse racing), another straight section, and a long, sweeping left turn, before finally crossing over the dirt course and joining the turf oval. The chute was modeled to give the appearance of a European-type course. Grass sprints at about 6½ furlongs (actual distance 64½ feet less than same), as well as the marathon distance of about 1 3/4 miles (actual distance 262½ feet less than same, and generally used only once a year for the San Juan Capistrano Invitational race), utilize the full length of the El Camino Real Chute. Turf races at 1¼ miles and 1½ miles also start from various points within the chute, and races at 1 1/8 miles — a very common turf distance at American tracks — start directly on the dirt crossover. At 1¼ miles and longer the horses are then required to go once around Santa Anita's turf oval, which is somewhat larger and narrower than most turf courses situated inside one-mile dirt tracks ( 9/10ths of a mile, or 7 furlongs plus 132 feet; this is also the case at Golden Gate Fields racetrack in Albany, California
).
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...
, the term chute refers to an extended path increasing the length of a straight portion of a racecourse, particularly an oval-shaped one, allowing races of a specified distance to start at a location other than on one of the turns.
For example, many racetracks in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
are exactly one mile (1,609 m) in circumference; often such racetracks are symmetrical ovals, with both straightaways and both turns being precisely ¼ of a mile (402 m) in length. Frequently, the finish line will be positioned exactly three-quarters of the way down the stretch; in that case, the point at which the first or "clubhouse" turn joins to the backstretch would be 5½ furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
s (1,106 m) from the finish. In order to hold races at the distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 m) — the most common distance of American thoroughbred
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...
horse races — the backstretch is extended by an extra 1/16 of a mile (101 m). This is the most common situation where a chute is pressed into service. At some tracks, this chute is longer, so that races can be run at 7 furlongs (1,408 m) as well.
Often a second chute will be placed at the top of the stretch, extending the length of the straightaway from the top of the stretch to the finish line from 3/16ths of a mile (302 m) to ¼ mile (402 m), thus allowing 1¼ mile (2,012 m) races to be run, and also make it possible for quarter horses
American Quarter Horse
The 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...
to run races at distances of up to 440 yards (402 m). At two tracks — Hialeah Park and Turf Paradise
Turf Paradise
Turf Paradise is a thoroughbred and quarter horse racetrack in the North Mountain section of Phoenix, Arizona in the United States.-History:...
— the chute that begins at the top of the stretch is even longer, so that there is a distance of 3 furlongs (604 m) from the beginning of the chute to the wire; so-called "baby races," or races for 2-year-olds run very early in the year, are started from this position.
Many one-mile (1,609 m) tracks have a turf (grass) course inside of the main (dirt) track, most commonly measuring 7 furlongs (1,408 m). This turf course will often be equipped with a chute of its own, extending diagonally from the stretch, to permit turf races to be run at the distance of 1 1/8 miles (1,811 m). This diagonal chute can either consist of a more-or-less straight line, or may curve significantly, in a counterclockwise direction. In 2006 two tracks — Monmouth Park and Hollywood Park Racetrack — added a chute extending diagonally from the backstretch, to permit races at 5½ furlongs and 6 furlongs, respectively (the corresponding circumferences of these two tracks' turf courses being 7 furlongs and 1 mile plus 145 feet).
Some American racetracks have circumferences of more (or, generally in the case of minor-circuit tracks, less) than one mile (1,609 m); examples include Aqueduct
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
, Arlington Park
Arlington Park
Arlington Park is a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago region has been a popular sport since the early days of the city in the 1830s, and at one time Chicago had more horse racing tracks than any other major metropolitan area...
, Hollywood Park Racetrack and Saratoga
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...
, all of which are 1 1/8 mile (1,811 m) tracks, and Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
, the country's largest track, with a 1½-mile (2,414 m) circumference. The backstretch chutes at Aqueduct and Arlington Park are long enough to permit races to be run at one mile (1,609 m), while Saratoga's chute is shorter, extending only to 7 furlongs (1,408 m). Hollywood's chute formerly allowed one mile (1,609 m) races, but when its finish line was moved forward in the late 1980s one mile (1,609 m) races could no longer be accommodated, and 7½ furlongs (1,509 m) became the longest distance that could be run out of its chute (an unintended consequence
Unintended consequence
In the social sciences, unintended consequences are outcomes that are not the outcomes intended by a purposeful action. The concept has long existed but was named and popularised in the 20th century by American sociologist Robert K. Merton...
of this was that by the mid-2000s 7½-furlong [1,509 m] dirt races had gained considerable popularity in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
when such races had rarely if ever been run before at most tracks, even those where the track's configuration made it possible to do so). At Belmont, the chute permits races at distances up to 1 1/8 miles (1,811 m) to be run (formerly up to 1¼ miles [2,012 m], but this chute, which at one point crossed over the training track, was truncated in the late 1970s to eliminate the aforementioned cross-over, and today 1¼-mile [2,012 m] dirt races at Belmont actually start on the clubhouse turn, the only situation where races do this at any major American track). Belmont's outer (Widener) turf course also contains two chutes which separate from the beginning of the backstretch at an angle; races at distances of one mile (1,609 m) and 1 1/16 miles (1,710 m) are started from these chutes.
Rarely, a "half-chute" will be employed; in this instance, the chute will branch off from a turn, usually the clubhouse turn, at the midway point of the turn, and extend to a position level with that of the homestretch, the chute thus joining to the turn at a 90-degree angle. Currently only one racetrack of note in the United States — Ellis Park Racecourse in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
— makes use of such a chute, starting races from it at the distance of one mile (Ellis Park is a 1 1/8 mile [1,811 m] track). Formerly, Saratoga also had such a chute; it was known as the "Wilson Mile" chute, and like the one found at Ellis Park, it was used to start one mile (1,609 m) races. Use of the Wilson Mile chute was suspended in 1972; after being reinstated briefly in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the chute itself was dismantled, and as a result, it is now no longer possible to run main-track (dirt) races at Saratoga at any distance longer than 7 furlongs (1,408 m) but shorter than 1 1/8 miles (1,811 m). The "all-weather
Polytrack
A synthetic racetrack surface is any kind of surface substance that replaces grass, dirt or sand as the racing surface on a horse racing track. Synthetic surfaces may be desirable over traditional surfaces for several reasons, most prominently the reduction of injuries and possible deaths to horses...
" (dirt) track at England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
's Wolverhampton Racecourse
Wolverhampton Racecourse
Wolverhampton Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England. The track was the first to be floodlit in Britain and often holds meetings in the evening....
has a similar chute, but it is used for 7-furlong races as the latter is a one-mile (1.6 km) track. The one-mile (1.6 km) dirt oval at Tampa Bay Downs
Tampa Bay Downs
Tampa Bay Downs is an American Thoroughbred horse racing facility located in Westchase in Hillsborough County, just outside Tampa, Florida. It opened in 1926 under the name Tampa Downs. The first of many names, the racetrack was well known as Sunshine Park and Florida Downs.-Season:The track races...
in Oldsmar, Florida
Oldsmar, Florida
Oldsmar is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The population was 11,910 at the 2000 census. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the population to be 13,401 as of 2008....
also once had a similar chute which permitted races at 7 furlongs; however, this chute extended diagonally from the backstretch and not on a 90-degree angle. In 2004 Tampa Bay Downs' backstretch chute was lengthened to 7 furlongs, whereupon the diagonal chute was decommissioned; however, remnants of it are still intact. Laurel Park
Laurel Park (racecourse)
Laurel Park is an American thoroughbred racetrack located just outside Laurel, Maryland which opened in 1911. The track is 1 1/8 miles in circumference. Its name was changed to "Laurel Race Course" for several decades until returning to the "Laurel Park" designation in 1994...
in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
also formerly had a diagonal chute, which allowed for races at up to 1 1/16 miles.
Perhaps America's most distinctive horse racing chute is the El Camino Real Chute, located at Santa Anita
Santa Anita
Santa Anita may refer to:*Metro Santa Anita, a station on the Mexico City Metro*Rancho Santa Anita, a 13,319-acre land grant given to Hugo Reid*Santa Anita, Baja California Sur, a village in Baja California del Sur, Mexico...
. Added in 1953, this is a downhill turf chute consisting of a straight section, a right turn (rare in modern American horse racing), another straight section, and a long, sweeping left turn, before finally crossing over the dirt course and joining the turf oval. The chute was modeled to give the appearance of a European-type course. Grass sprints at about 6½ furlongs (actual distance 64½ feet less than same), as well as the marathon distance of about 1 3/4 miles (actual distance 262½ feet less than same, and generally used only once a year for the San Juan Capistrano Invitational race), utilize the full length of the El Camino Real Chute. Turf races at 1¼ miles and 1½ miles also start from various points within the chute, and races at 1 1/8 miles — a very common turf distance at American tracks — start directly on the dirt crossover. At 1¼ miles and longer the horses are then required to go once around Santa Anita's turf oval, which is somewhat larger and narrower than most turf courses situated inside one-mile dirt tracks ( 9/10ths of a mile, or 7 furlongs plus 132 feet; this is also the case at Golden Gate Fields racetrack in Albany, California
Albany, California
Albany is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. The population was 18,539 at the 2010 census.-History:In 1908, a group of local women protested the dumping of Berkeley garbage in their community...
).