I think the wind plays a very big part in 99% of all races as to where the race winner is clocked, and if you look through the past records of the racing you will see a distinct pattern, west winds east side win, east wind west side win so on and so on, on very few occasions this will dither, in the 600 mile races the pigeon will help level this out as if the bird has not got it you wont see it but the wind will still help one and hinder another.