If you’re an experienced punter, you understand how important the rating of a particular horse track can be when it comes to the performance of your chosen winner. Some horses can only perform on certain types of tracks, while others do well on virtually every kind. But regardless of the horse, the general rule and ideal track for getting the best performance from your horse is on a hard, dry track. The harder a track is, the higher the rating will be. The hardest tracks are rated “fast” or “good,” with “Fast 1” being the most firm. A Fast 1 track is now less common to come by in Australian horse tracks; unless the horse is a front-runner, most horses perform best on a good track, where there is some cushioning.
Where to Find Hard Summer Tracks in Australia
Researching the different tracks in your area and understanding their current track ratings depending on the season can give you a great advantage as a punter, especially if you understand how the different conditions of the track will affect the speed of your betting horse.
So where can you find hard summer tracks to make the most of your summer betting in Australia? Consider Rosehill Gardens of the Australian Turf Club in Sydney, which has reported a Good 3 track rating as of January 4, 2014. Canterbury Races located in Sydney, and Eagle Farm Races in Brisbane also offer Good 3 track ratings, as does the main Perth racetrack, Perth Ascot Races. Melbourne and Adelaide racetracks have reported wetter tracks, so you may want to avoid them for now.
How Does the Track Affect Your Bet?
At a first glance, one track may look identical to the next, and it may not be apparent how different tracks will affect a punter’s bet. But the condition of the track and a particular track’s rating at any given time should affect the punter’s bet.
Generally, the harder the track, the faster the horses can run. However, since the firmer tracks are harder on the horses’ joints and bones, each horse will perform either faster or slower on firmer tracks, depending on their stamina, age, and training. This is when past knowledge and experience will help a bettor adjust their bet on a particular horse depending on the condition of the track.
Generally speaking, the most ideal types of track are rated Fast 1 to Good 3, but Dead 4 and Dead 5 track ratings aren’t bad either. Slow and heavy tracks should be avoided, as they tend to skew horses’ performance the most. The lower the number, the harder and dryer the track, and the higher the number, the wetter and more cushioned the track. Most horses have difficulty performing well on very wet or cushioned tracks, as this tends to slow them down significantly.
When preparing for a day of betting, it is important to first search for a tipster, especially if you aren’t experienced at punting. Discover what the condition of the track is and how it will affect your horse’s performance. If you find the right tipsters, you might even choose to bet on a different horse that may have an advantage due to a particular track rating.
