The following comes from the USTA rule book concerning measuring the size of a racetrack:
ยง 3. Track Measurement
Certificate.-In order that the performances thereon may be
recognized and/or published as official every track member not having done so heretofore and since January 1st, 1939, shall forthwith cause to be filed with
the Executive Vice-President the certificate of a duly licensed civil engineer or land surveyor that he has subsequently to January 1st, 1939, measured the
said track from wire to wire 3 feet out from the pole or inside hub rail thereof and certifying in linear feet the result of such measurement. Each track shall
be measured and recertified in the event of any changes or relocation of the hub rail. Provided further that effective January 1, 2008 and thereafter the times
of horses obtained on tracks which have not been recertified after a request for recertification by the United states Trotting Association shall not be
recognized.
The above sounds like the rule has not been changed since the introduction of the
hubless rail. In the old days, horses raced off the rail for obvious reasons, which probably explains why the race track was measured 3 feet out. However,
these days with the pylons you see a lot of horses skimming the pylons which depending on how the track is now measured could result in a horses racing less
than a mile.
Does anyone know if the pylons are in the same place as the hub rail was or if the pylons are placed the three feet out where the tracks were measured. Also,
if this rule has not been updated, aren't we running the risk that the rule can be misinterpreted so a track can be 'short'?
