In horse racing, a chute is an extended path increasing the length of a straight portion of a racecourse, particularly an oval-shaped one, allowing races of a specified distance to start at a location other than on one of the turns. For example, many racetracks in the United States are exactly in circumference; often such racetracks are symmetrical ovals, with both straightaways and both turns being precisely of a mile (402 m). Frequently, the finish line will be positioned exactly three-quarters of the way down the stretch; in that case, the point at which the first or "clubhouse" turn joins to the backstretch would be 5 furlongs (1,106 m) from the finish. In order to hold races at the distance of – the most common distance of American thoroughbred horse races – the backstretch is extended by an extra 1/16 of a mile (101 m). This is the most common situation where a chute is pressed into service. At some tracks, this chute is longer, so that races can be run at as well. Often a second chute will be placed at the top of the stretch, extending the length of the straightaway from the top of the stretch to the finish line from 3/16ths of a mile (302 m) to , thus allowing races to be run, and also make it possible for quarter horses to run races at distances of up to . At two tracks, Hialeah Park and Turf Paradise, the chute that begins at the top of the stretch is even longer, so that there is a distance of from the beginning of the chute to the wire; so-called "baby races," or races for 2-year-olds run very early in the year, are started from this position. Many one-mile (1,609 m) tracks have a turf (grass) course inside of the main (dirt) track, most commonly measuring . This turf course will often be equipped with a chute of its own, extending diagonally from the stretch, to permit turf races to be run at the distance of . This diagonal chute can either consist of a more-or-less straight line, or may curve significantly, in a counterclockwise direction. In 2006 two tracks — Monmouth Park and Hollywood Park Racetrack — added a chute extending diagonally from the backstretch, to permit races at furlongs and 6 furlongs, respectively (the corresponding circumferences of these two tracks' turf courses being 7 furlongs