Track Ratings Explained
Every Australian race meeting is given a track rating from 1 to 10 that tells you how firm or wet the racing surface is. The lower the number, the firmer the track; the higher the number, the wetter and slower it is.
The rating scale
- Firm 1–2: a hard, fast surface. Rare at most tracks.
- Good 3–4: the ideal racing surface and the most common rating.
- Soft 5–7: some give in the ground. Soft 5 races much like a good track; Soft 7 is noticeably slower.
- Heavy 8–10: a wet, testing surface. Times are much slower and stamina counts.
- Synthetic: an all-weather surface used at some tracks, with its own form patterns.
Ratings are set by the track manager before racing and can change during the day, upgrading as the track dries or downgrading after rain. Always check the latest rating before you bet.
How the rating changes a race
- Wet-track form: some horses improve on a soft or heavy track; others can’t handle it. Check each runner’s record on today’s rating.
- Pedigree: a horse with no wet-track runs may be suited by its breeding.
- Speed and stamina: on heavy tracks, horses that stay the distance strongly often beat faster horses that run out of breath.
- Track pattern: on wet days the best ground is sometimes off the rail, which can change which runners are favoured.
Check each runner’s past starts in our free Horse Racing Form Guide.
Read more on wet tracks and track bias
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