A treble at Royal Ascot:

Parthenon, Virginia Boy

and Karabas hit the jackpot.

So I wondered why 

 

I shouldn’t gauge with precision -

apply science to a sport -

every horse-race of the season;

study form, in short.

 

How much faster will a horse run

if he shoulders 5lb. less

in a Two Mile Chase at Taunton?

Thus did I obsess.

 

Dividing time into distance

by the burden on a back

was the purpose of existence -

and my handicap.

 

Now it’s poetry I measure

feet and metre to a verse,

all weighed down by dull endeavour –

if not somewhat worse.