- This topic has 5 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 5 months ago by
.
- Posts
I read the stick readings for Ascot (described as soft)
Standside: 7.2, Centre: 7.4, Farside: 7.3, Round: 5.9
I then look up this page
http://www.britishhorseracing.com/resources/goingstick/
which tells me 7.1 would be good/soft and 5.9 would be pretty close to heavy. Anybody able to sort me out here??
SHL
SHL
The clerk of course alone decides what the official going description is and the stick readings are only taken as a guide or can be completely ignored if his "superior judgement" and experience of the course so decrees. It is a bit like going to a doctor and he takes a temperature reading. What the reading means may be nothing or it may be serious if other symptoms point that way.
The stick readings mean different things on different courses as the soil make up, turf root quality and drainage differ so much not only from course to course but within the course.
It was proven that there is no way to know what the going is from just walking the course or sticking a walking stick in.
Sticks do not model the 2 tonne hoof impact and slippage of a horse travelling at speed. They do not model the full depth of soil variation, dynamics and pore water pressures supporting the horse’s hoof impact force. The only way to do that correctly is to time a local group of say retired racehorses at the gallop over sections of the course. This was attempted in New Zealand.
The other factor is that "Soft" say is a generic term and has no precise definition. It lies somewhere vaguely on the spectrum past Good but before Heavy. It varies between racing codes (flat turf, AW and jumps) and countries.
They can’t be bothered to check for correct race distances, provide sectional times for all races nor give horse body weight for handicap races, but going is one difficult area they have tried to improve upon only because they listen to trainers needs rather than those of punters.
The clerk of course alone decides what the official going description is and the stick readings are only taken as a guide or can be completely ignored if his "superior judgement" and experience of the course so decrees. It is a bit like going to a doctor and he takes a temperature reading. What the reading means may be nothing or it may be serious if other symptoms point that way.
The stick readings mean different things on different courses as the soil make up, turf root quality and drainage differ so much not only from course to course but within the course.
It was proven that there is no way to know what the going is from just walking the course or sticking a walking stick in.
Sticks do not model the 2 tonne hoof impact and slippage of a horse travelling at speed. They do not model the full depth of soil variation, dynamics and pore water pressures supporting the horse’s hoof impact force. The only way to do that correctly is to time a local group of say retired racehorses at the gallop over sections of the course. This was attempted in New Zealand.
The other factor is that "Soft" say is a generic term and has no precise definition. It lies somewhere vaguely on the spectrum past Good but before Heavy. It varies between racing codes (flat turf, AW and jumps) and countries.
They can’t be bothered to check for correct race distances, provide sectional times for all races nor give horse body weight for handicap races, but going is one difficult area they have tried to improve upon only because they listen to trainers needs rather than those of punters.
Thanks Rob, you learn something new everyday around here
SHL
The clerk of course alone decides what the official going description is and the stick readings are only taken as a guide or can be completely ignored if his "superior judgement" and experience of the course so decrees. It is a bit like going to a doctor and he takes a temperature reading. What the reading means may be nothing or it may be serious if other symptoms point that way.
The stick readings mean different things on different courses as the soil make up, turf root quality and drainage differ so much not only from course to course but within the course.
It was proven that there is no way to know what the going is from just walking the course or sticking a walking stick in.
Sticks do not model the 2 tonne hoof impact and slippage of a horse travelling at speed. They do not model the full depth of soil variation, dynamics and pore water pressures supporting the horse’s hoof impact force. The only way to do that correctly is to time a local group of say retired racehorses at the gallop over sections of the course. This was attempted in New Zealand.
The other factor is that "Soft" say is a generic term and has no precise definition. It lies somewhere vaguely on the spectrum past Good but before Heavy. It varies between racing codes (flat turf, AW and jumps) and countries.
They can’t be bothered to check for correct race distances, provide sectional times for all races nor give horse body weight for handicap races, but going is one difficult area they have tried to improve upon only because they listen to trainers needs rather than those of punters.
One of the best posts I’ve seen on TRF
The vagaries of Going reports were brought home to me again today when reading that the ground at York prior to next week is currently Good, based on a current stick reading of 6.5.
My bets today were based on official going reports at Newmarket Newbury and Chester being all Soft with stick readings at 6.1, 6.3, and 7.0, whilst Ripon was Good, G-S in places at 7.9.
Imagine my confusion!
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.