Why do race NPCs react too damn fast?

[Bacent]

I've been getting last place like effing crazy because of this. I'm trying to get a blood pedigree 9 chocobo, but why the hell should I bother when I keep losing because of the computer's perfect timing in every race?

They save items for me 9 out of 10 times, they magically catch up to me when they get a briar item and drain 15%+ of my stamina no matter if I slow down or move to the side, what makes it worse (Thanks to everyone who used to AFK race) is this is the reward for LAST PLACE (+30% EXP skill btw)

[18:14]You obtain 95 MGP.
[18:14]Großes IV gains 474 experience points.

That's the kind of 'reward' I get for getting screwed over by the NPCs who look like they're programmed to just go after the players.

Edit: This is with my rating at about 155 right now with a pedigree 7 chocobo