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Friday, January 24, 2014Contact: Peter McGauran
+0408 483 49
New Racetrack Ratings (Australian Racing Board)

New Racetrack Ratings 
 
A new definition of track ratings has been released today 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.  

For comments and feedback on the proposed system, please contact the ARB through the ‘Contact Us” section of the ARB website. www.australianracingboard.com.au. 
 
The table below summarises the number rating system and description of the numerical rating along with the existing and proposed track rating. 

Present Rating

Proposed Rating

Numerical Rating

Description of Numerical Rating

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.

For further information: 
 
Mr Peter McGauran, 0408 483 491 
For additional information, please visit www.australianracingboard.com.au/uploadimg/media-releases/ARB%20Media%20Release%20-%20New%20Track%20Ratings%202.pdf

E-Mail : arb@australianracingboard.com.au