A race result tells you which horse won and by how much. Sectional time data tells you how the race was run: the pace at every stage, which horses were moving through the field, which were fading, and what the winning time actually represents in pace terms. For data-driven research, this distinction is fundamental.
What Sectional Data Contains
HRDB sectional records are structured at the race level, with individual split times per furlong interval from the start. Each record contains:
- Split marker — The furlong position at which the time was measured (cumulative from start)
- Elapsed time — Time in seconds from start to that marker, to two decimal places
- Split interval — The time taken for that specific furlong only (derived: current minus previous)
- Race ID — Foreign key linking to the race result record
HRDB Coverage
Sectional data is available in our HK dataset from 2008 onwards — covering every race at Sha Tin and Happy Valley with electronic transponder timing. UK sectional data is available from 2017 at participating courses as part of the racing industry’s sectional timing programme.
Analysis Applications
Common uses of sectional data in professional analytics pipelines include: constructing pace-adjusted performance ratings, identifying front-runner versus hold-up preferences per horse, quantifying going impact through time-per-furlong normalisations, and building pace scenario models for race planning systems.
Sectional data is included with all UK and HK dataset subscriptions. View export packages for bulk access or the API documentation for real-time sectional feeds.
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