“Dwelt” in thoroughbred horse racing describes a horse that stays in the starting gate after the rest of the field has broken and then breaks several lengths behind the other runners.
Key Characteristics
When a horse “dwelt,” it means the horse hesitated at the start and was extremely late in breaking from the gate. This term is used only at the start of races to describe this specific starting problem.
Impact on Performance
A horse that dwelt typically finds itself at a significant positional disadvantage from the very beginning of the race, often breaking several lengths behind the field. This poor start can severely compromise the horse’s chances of competing effectively, as it must use extra energy to make up the lost ground.
Usage Context
“Dwelt” appears in race charts and past performance comments as an explanation for why a horse may have performed poorly, providing important context about trip conditions that affected the horse’s ability to show its true racing ability.
Related Terms
While “dwelt” describes hesitation at the start, “slow start” or “bumped start” describe other types of starting difficulties, and “left at gate” describes the most severe form where a horse essentially refuses to break properly from the starting gate.