Ray Taulbot's Pace Calculator Linear Slide Rule

This rectangular white plastic slide rule has scales for sprint times from 5 to 7 furlongs; two columns for use with the average pace method for handicapping horse races; three columns for use with the highlight pace time method of handicapping; and scales for route times from 1 to 1-1/4 miles. This outer folder is marked: Ray Taulbot's Pace Calculator (/) WITH AMER-VAR; Published by (/) AMERICAN (/) TURF MONTHLY (/) 505 EIGHTH AVENUE (/) New York, N.Y. 10018; PRINTED IN U.S.A. COPYRIGHT — 1979 Amerpub Company.

The slide, which fits inside the folder, bears scales for speed rating, half-mile sprint highlight pace time, and six furlong route highlight pace time. It is marked: BASTIAN BROS. CO., ROCHESTER N. Y. A sliding plastic indicator has a broken end. An instruction booklet (copyrighted in 1979) was received with the rule; both fit into a black plastic case marked: RAY TAULBOT'S (/) PACE CALCULATOR (/) AMERPUB COMPANY (/) 505 8TH Avenue (/) New York, N. Y. 10018.

Ray Taulbot (1895–1969) was the longtime managing editor of American Turf Monthly, a magazine for horse racing enthusiasts published by the Amerpub Company. He is credited with several innovations in handicapping races, particularly by rating a horse in comparison to the overall pace of a race. He believed horses must be judged by their own speed and by how close they were to the winner. A chart on the back of the calculator allowed bettors to combine the results of the Pace Calculator with the Amer-Var rating, which took into account the horse's age, the length of the race, the amount of the purse, the time of year, and the type of race. Taulbot's methods dated at least to the 1960s, but this device was made in 1979. American Turf Monthly continues to reprint Taulbot's articles.

For other devices made by Bastian Brothers, see 1987.0183.01 and 1988.0323.03.

References: Ray Taulbot, Thoroughbred Horse Racing: Playing for Profit (Philadelphia: A. Walker Co., 1949); Howard G. Sartin, "Winning Today with Ray Taulbot's Pace Calculator," American Turf Monthly, January 2000, http://www.americanturf.com/pace/sartinarticle.cfm; F. Finstuen, "Handicapping Derby Thoroughbreds: Edward's Minit, Race-O-Matic, and Kel-Co II Slide Rules," Journal of the Oughtred Society 10, no. 2 (2001): 19–24.

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