We shouldn't forget the fact that LD's don't get their finish time until the horse pulses down to 60. This is something I found that some endurance riders didn't know about LD rides....this was created to stop the "racing" in the sport, and the subsequent "crashing" of horses.
I've never witnessed LD "racing" myself, in the LD rides I've done. Most people appear to be riding to the ability of the horses. I saw one gal ride out fast in an Idaho ride, obviously wanting to win, and she did - her horse looked great and she got an AERC BC for LD on top of it! Good for her!
