Compare that to the price quoted on the bookmaker s betting board. The effect of the draw is thought to have a major influence on the outcome of races. Trainers even go so far as to rather not declare to run in a race than to race from what they think is a poor draw. Or alternatively, only to accept to race from a wide draw with a horse they think can t win anyway. As a result, what is seen as a poor draw often becomes a self fulfilling prophecy - trainers simply don t race horses with a chance from poor draws, and those draws therefore hardly give winners.
Statistics show that horses do win from all draws, at all tracks, over all distances.
In races round a bend, a wide draw often gives a disadvantage if the start is close to the bend. This is because the horse cannot find a position close to the fence and has to race wide. Racing wide usually costs a few lengths. More importantly, coming into the straight it is easier for a horse to accelerate the closer it is to the inside of the bend. Sometimes, when a horse likes to race from behind, a wide draw becomes less important.