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Racing Surface and Track Conditions

A majority of horse racing in the United States is conducted over a combination of layers consisting of dirt and turf (grass) and there are some races that utilize synthetic based materials to give the track a softer or harder edge to it.

While most people think that dirt is simply dirt like on sees in an abandoned yard or area, it is different for it must have consistency and not contain any hard substances that may damage the traction of the horses. The type of materials used on the track may dramatically differ and it may spell a difference to the handicapper. Some horses may run on different surfaces and different track conditions. Knowing which track the horses favor is crucial.

Different horses perform differently on different tracks. A horse that fares well on dry and flat races my end up stumbling in muddy or wet terrain. Likewise, horses that prefer a firm track would exert more effort and be slowed down on a soft terrain.

Players must also realize that other people collect information of the performance of the horses under these conditions and publish them for all to see. This allows the player to make a more valid bet at the beginning of the race. Most include the horse name and number, the track type and the conditions of the track during the race.

When players handicap the races, they have to take in account the past performances of the horses under the different conditions. When one handicaps, one should see the horses that have done well on some track conditions.

Even though if the handicapping rules are common, it is surprising to note how horses in poor shape are able to outperform even the favorites under varying track conditions. Horses that still perform poorly under any conditions can still be wagered on and mad a profit from them. This is a technique for shaper handicappers.

Here are some examples of track and racing surfaces. One must note the format of the information which appears in the mags for review or comment :

Sample Dirt Racing Surface information:

12Jly03-8GT fst � indicates that this horse had a run on July 12, 2003 (12Jly03), in the eighth race (8) at Gulf Traxx (GP) over a fast (fst) dirt surface.

Sample Turf Course info:

25May06-10Val fm 9f (G) - shows that the horse had a run during May 25, 2006 (22May02) in race ten at ValleyHood Park (Bel) over a normal/firm(fm) surface for 9 furlongs (9f) on the grass (G).

While the mere physical form of the horse may be enough for players to judge on, the track plays a big factoring the race and this is a great equalizer for many players.