Getting to Know Australian Racing (3/3)

Mel Daniels

January 31st, 2015

As we all know, the weather plays a very important part in horse racing. In the United States, a deluge of rain could turn a course upside down. First and more than likely, every turf race scheduled for that day will be taken off the course and put on the dirt surface. There are a few changes that the track will be made. It can be changed anywhere from wet track but still fast to sloppy. In Australia, it is a lot different. Figuratively speaking, 99% of the racing in Australia is on turf. The Australian Racing Board came up with a scale of 1 to 10 (described below).

Pentrometers are used to measure the amount of rain that has soaked into the turf surface. It is a very precise instrument that has been used in road building.

Rating System

1 = Firm A dry hard track.

2 = Firm A firm track with some grass coverage.

3 = Good It's the ideal track with some give in the grass.

4 = Good A track with a little more give in the grass than rating 3.

5 = Soft There is a reasonable amount of give in the grass.

6 = Soft The track is lightly rain affected, but it will suit some horses more than others.

7 = Soft A rain affected track that will "chop out".

8 = Heavy A soft track, but not too wet.

9 = Heavy A very soft track in which some horses will take to and others will bog down in it.

10 = Heavy Very soft and very muddy.

This will help on your next go at the land down under!

By Mel Daniels

Racing