New Track Ratings Proposed

A new definition of track ratings has been released on Friday by the Australian Racing Board (ARB) for input and comment by punters and stakeholders.

In releasing the draft track ratings, ARB CEO Peter McGauran said that an ARB Working Party of officials from Racing NSW, Racing Victoria and Racing Queensland aimed to update and modernize track ratings to meet the expectations of punters and industry participants.

“The object of the exercise was to modernise the terms applying to track ratings for the benefit of punters and the next generation of punters and racegoers whilst describing in detail the footing of the track.” Mr McGauran said.

“The ARB’s aim is to give the racing public and participants the most detailed and easily understood information possible on track conditions. The Working Party agreed that the numerical rating system should be retained as the strongest guide to the going of a track in conjunction with terms more commonly used and understood by punters,” he said.

“We want to take the revision into the marketplace and get the feedback of racing’s customers. Track ratings can be a complex and contentious issue at times and we need to update and streamline the current system whilst not losing its best features.” Mr McGauran said.

The current ratings followed by their proposed replacements are:

Fast – Firm 1 (Dry hard track, much firmer than a good track)

Good – Firm 2 (Firm track with a reasonable grass coverage, on the firmer side of good)

Good – Good 3 (Track with a good grass coverage and cushion. Ideal track without being too firm)

Dead – Good 4 (Track with just some give in it. Shouldn’t affect any chances although on the worse side of good)

Dead – Soft 5 (Reasonable amount of give in it, the driest category of rain affected tracks)

Slow – Soft 6 (Not a badly affected track, but will suit some horses more than others; becoming softer)

Slow – Soft 7 (More rain-affected track that will chop out; on the better side of heavy)

Heavy – Heavy 8 (Soft track that horses will get into but not necessarily too wet)

Heavy – Heavy 9 (Softer track getting into squelchy area. Genuine heavy)

Heavy – Heavy 10 (Very soft and wet track. Heaviest category)

– Australian Racing Board