Re: Average Distance Question.
I don't always judge a horses best distance by what the game says a horses best distance is. In the first instance, I usually judge a horses best distance by the stamina bar. See Below.
If I want a horse to run under its best distance, I usually give the jockey instructions to " challenge early" and if I want a horse to run over its best distance I give a "challenge later" instruction.
I find it is easier to get a horse to run under its best distance rather than over its best distance.
Some of the green bars are also important to how a horse runs, especially the potential, cruising burst and extra speed bars.