Did anyone here in the U.S. (or elsewhere) watch the Belmont Stakes to see if
Smarty Jones could cinch the Triple Crown? I've never watched horse racing
before but I thought it would be interesting just this once. Anyway, I found
myself laughing out loud but at the same time wanting to yell at the sports
casters. Horse racing must be the last bastion of practice for 100% pure
imperial measurement. So, the track is 6 furlongs and that horse is 17 hands
tall? Hmmm... come again? What the heck does that mean? Under what
circumstances does one decide to measure using their hands instead of their
feet? They still gave the horse's weight in pounds so I'm surprised they
didn't use stones.
I'm sure it's just tradition that these measurements are still used but it
just struck me as funny because I've never heard anyone describe something
using 'hands' and 'furlongs'.
jdd
