“A good horse will act on any going”

[IanDavies]

For me, possibly the most stupid saying in racing.

It’s not even entirely clear what it means.

If it’s a good horse it will act on any going? Well, if that’s your criteria for a horse being good it’s up to you, but it leaves us none the wiser if the nag in question will go on the ground today.

It’s a good horse so it will act on the ground? Err, no, lots of good horses have been heavily ground dependant.

And that brings me onto the reason for this thread.

Those as old (or older) than me might remember Kalaglow.

Wouldn’t go a yard with cut in the ground, but a rattling good horse when he heard his hooves rattle.

He ran away with the Eclipse in 1982.

Enjoy: https://youtu.be/WUXaZtEyJ7o

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[Drone]

but a rattling good horse when he heard his hooves rattle

A rather stupid saying too but that aside, being a fellow antique I remember Kalaglow well. Described as a ‘steel grey’ which is unusual, I think

[Gingertipster]

“A good horse will act on any going” is daft for all the reasons you’ve given Ian.

However, “act on any going” is often (wrongly imo) taken as meaning able to win on any going.

The saying may have its origins from the fact a really really good horse may have a lot in hand on its favourite surface… But can still win on an unfavoured surface even if running well below its best…

Where as handicappers rarely have much in hand and therefore need the going to be favourable to win.

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[Gladiateur]

Think Ginger has it spot on there. A good horse is so superior to its opposition that it can still beat them when conditions aren’t ideal, whereas average horses need everything to fall just right.

As for Kalaglow, he was injured early in Shergar’s Derby and was kept off the track for the rest of his three year old season. He was a top class horse and went on to complete the Eclipse-King George double in 1982, beating a very good field including Assert, Glint Of Gold, Critique and Bikala at Ascot.

[The Tatling Cheekily]

Can think of a few who could win Group 1s on both extremes. Sariska, Araafa, are one of each sex from memory.

Frankel was better on better going but still good enough to stuff a classy mudlark on bad ground.

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