 CONT: Nine chariots start the chariot race. After the first crash,  there appear still to be nine chariots in the race. After the third  crash, six are shown, but as Ben Hur passes to catch up, clearly  there is a total of seven in the race. After five have crashed, five  are left. Messala is the sixth chariot to crash, but Ben Hur and  three others finish the race. Thus, nine chariots start the race,  six crash, and four finish.