YOU might think picking a winner in racing is all down to the form, jockey and trainer.
But discount what’s happening underfoot and you’re making a big mistake.
GettyThe going is a huge factor in which horse wins a race[/caption]
That’s why the going is so important.
The going is used to describe the state of the turf on any given day – and it can be absolutely crucial to how a horse performs.
In British racing, the going varies from…
Heavy
Soft
Good to soft
Good
Good to firm
Firm
What each one means is pretty self-explanatory.
If there has been a lot of rain and it has seeped into the ground then the going will likely be soft – that’s when we see mud-covered jockeys and horses.
In the summer at meetings such as Royal Ascot you can expect good and good to firm going.
But it gets more specific.
The going can be different on different parts of the course – and that’s where the terms can be combined.
For example, the going could be soft on the hurdle course but soft, good to soft in places, on the chase.
But why does this matter?
Well, some horses have running styles that make them better suited to soft ground.
Look for those with a high knee action where their hooves come a long way off the ground.
While others with a daisy cutter action, where their hooves sweep forward across the top of the grass, are better suited to firm.
You will often hear of soft ground ‘blunting’ a horse’s speed too.
This is another important aspect to consider.
You may know that a slower, older horse could not match a younger, faster horse on good ground.
But the odds could swing back in the older horse’s favour on soft ground if they are able to ‘stay’ – in other words, have more endurance – longer than the younger horse.
All-weather racing takes place on either a Tapeta (Newcastle, Wolverhampton, Southwell) or Polytrack (Kempton, Chelmsford, Lingfield) surface.
The properties are generally quite consistent across all, although there can be more kickback at Chelmsford, where it pays to race up with the pace rather than trying to come from behind.
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