Australian racetracks are rated on a ten point scale that describes how firm or wet the surface is. The rating is published before racing and can be upgraded or downgraded during the day.
The ten point scale
Each rating combines a description with a number. Lower numbers mean a firmer, drier track.
- Firm 1 and Firm 2: very dry, hard ground
- Good 3 and Good 4: the ideal racing surface
- Soft 5, Soft 6 and Soft 7: some give in the ground after rain
- Heavy 8, Heavy 9 and Heavy 10: wet, testing ground
Why the rating matters
Horses can perform very differently depending on the ground. A horse with strong results on Good tracks may not handle a Heavy surface, and some horses improve markedly when the track is soft.
Wet tracks also tend to favour horses with stamina and can change which parts of the track are fastest, so a change in rating can shift the market.
Synthetic tracks
Some racecourses also run meetings on synthetic surfaces, which are designed to race consistently in wet weather. Form on synthetic tracks does not always carry over to turf, and the reverse is also true.
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