| In Australia, horse racing tracks are measured in | | | | instances. |
| terms of speed. The drier and firmer the track, | | | | As you can imagine, the surface that horses race |
| the faster that horses can run. These | | | | on can make a big difference. Horses also have |
| measurements range from Fast, Good Dead and | | | | a range of physical characteristics that can affect |
| then Slow to Heavy. They are now measured | | | | the way they run in different conditions. Some |
| on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is very dry and | | | | horses have small hooves or feet, and these are |
| hard, to 10 which is very muddy. For example, | | | | often associated with horses bred to run on dirt |
| you will see track ratings of Good 3 for example, | | | | tracks. Different galloping actions can also |
| meaning that the track is in good condition, but | | | | influence the way that a horse runs on different |
| may have a heavy cover of grass making it a | | | | surfaces. Horses can be seen to lift their knees |
| little softer for horses to gallop on. Dry tracks | | | | very high when they run, and sometimes this can |
| are considered to be rated from Fast to Good, | | | | help them on heavy tracks. |
| while Wet tracks are noted as Slow or Heavy. | | | | With horses though, no single factor can be |
| Often in horse racing, track ratings will include a | | | | definitive in the end result of a race. However, |
| penetrometer reading. The penetrometer is an | | | | as some of these characteristics can be |
| instrument that measures how firm the track is, | | | | hereditary, it is often a good idea to see how the |
| and readings are taken at a range of points | | | | progeny of certain stallions go under various track |
| around the circuit to see how consistent the track | | | | conditions. |
| is. A race track can cover a large amount of | | | | Most good horse racing form guides will tell of a |
| ground, and different conditions can exist in | | | | horse’s previous runs on differing track |
| different areas. | | | | conditions. While this can be a good insight to |
| These ratings are used on grass tracks, but we | | | | their chance of handling the track today, it does |
| are also seeing the advent of all weather tracks, | | | | not take into account differences in weight, |
| in addition to the dirt tracks that are used in | | | | barrier, quality of the race or any of the other |
| some countries. All weather tracks are artificial | | | | variables that need to be considered when |
| surfaces that are becoming popular in horse racing | | | | wagering. |
| as they reduce the need for watering in many | | | | |