Winning Post Position Abnormalities

So I'm handicapping a couple of races for today (Saturday, June 30) at Calder, when I decide to see how the various Post Positions have been faring for the current meet.  Here's the winning Post Position stats for dirt sprints, courtesy of Equibase.com, through yesterday:

Calder Race Course Standings - Through June 29, 2012

Sprint Races

PP......Starts......Wins......Win%

1.........277.........57.......... 20.6
2.........277.........24.............8.7
3.........277.........45...........16.2
4.........277.........35...........12.6
5.........277.........31...........11.2
6.........258.........32...........12.4
7.........207.........21...........10.1
8.........123.........19...........15.4
9..........59...........6............10.2
10.........29..........6............20.7
11..........7...........1............14.3
12..........4...........0..............0.0

As you can see, with the exception of Post Position 12 (which is winless in four tries) Post Position 2 is the only Post Position to have won fewer than ten percent of it starts in sprints this meet at Calder. 


How can that be?  Surely it can't be the track; not with Post Position 3 right next door winning twice as often, while Post Position 1 to the inside is collecting at better than twenty percent.  It can't be a problem with the gate, since (as you can see from the full chart here) Post Position 2 is winning its fair share of races in routes and on the grass.  So what could it be?


Well, for the time being, I'm going to just presume that it's one of those statistical flukes that pops up from time to time.  Even though the sample isn't all that small, I'm going to move on with the presumption that this is nothing more than an abnormality in the numbers that will correct itself as the meet goes on.  Perhaps the Number 2 Post Position just hasn't been getting its fair share of favorites; had I the time, I would be go through the charts for the meet to see what the average Final Odds are for each Post Position, and perhaps find the solution to this mystery there-in.


Anyway, if anyone of you want to offer up a theory as to what's taking place at Calder, or if you have your own story regarding Post Position madness, I'd love to hear it.


Peace and Love,


Jimbo