How the going changes a race, from heavy to firm
The going is the official description of the ground on a racecourse, and it changes how fast races are run and which horses can handle them. Move the slider above to see each turf description, then read on for how the going affects form, non-runners and your bets.
Good
What the going means and who declares it
The going describes how much give there is in the ground, which mostly comes down to how much moisture is in it. Wet ground is softer and slower; dry ground is firmer and faster. The description is declared by the clerk of the course, the official responsible for preparing the track, who walks the course and checks the ground before a meeting.
Courses publish the going in the days before racing and update it on the morning of the meeting, and again if rain or sun changes things during the afternoon. Many also publish readings from a GoingStick, a device that measures how firm the ground is, alongside the official description. On fast ground, courses may water the track to keep it safe.
The going is not always the same across a course. You will often see descriptions such as good to soft, soft in places, which tell you that parts of the track are wetter than others.
The going scales on turf and all-weather
Turf and all-weather tracks use different scales, because a synthetic surface behaves differently from grass.
| Surface | Description | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Turf | Heavy | Very wet, deep ground; races become a test of stamina |
| Turf | Soft | Wet ground with plenty of give; times are slow |
| Turf | Good to soft | Some give, on the slower side of good |
| Turf | Good | The middle of the scale; suits most horses |
| Turf | Good to firm | Dry, quick ground that favours speed |
| Turf | Firm | Very fast ground; some trainers withdraw horses |
| Turf | Hard | Rarely seen at British meetings |
| All-weather | Standard | The normal state of a synthetic surface |
| All-weather | Standard to slow, slow | The surface is riding slower than usual |
| All-weather | Standard to fast, fast | The surface is riding quicker than usual |
All-weather tracks were built so racing could continue through the winter, and their surface is far more consistent than turf. That is why most all-weather meetings are simply described as standard, and why the going matters much more on grass.
How the ground affects form
Horses have strong preferences. Some with a long, low stride glide over fast ground; others are at their best when their hooves can sink in a little. Soft and heavy ground slows the whole field and stretches the stamina of every runner, so a horse that wins on good ground over two miles may not see out the same trip on heavy.
This is why the going should be read alongside a horse's form. If its best runs all came on soft ground and today's description is good to firm, its recent figures may flatter or mislead. The reverse is just as true. Our form guide explains how to find a horse's previous runs and match them to the conditions.
The going also changes how races are run. On fast ground, horses that race prominently are harder to catch. On testing ground, races often fall apart in the closing stages as tired horses drop away, and finishing positions can be spread far apart.
Why non-runners appear on fast or very soft ground
Trainers declare horses days in advance, but they can withdraw them if conditions are unsuitable. A change in the going is the most common reason. Firm ground puts more strain on a horse's legs, so trainers are cautious with horses that have had problems or simply dislike it. At the other end, very soft or heavy ground can turn a race into a slog that a horse with a lighter frame or a speed-based profile is unlikely to enjoy.
Non-runners matter to punters for two reasons. They can change the each-way terms, because standard place terms follow the number of horses that actually start, and they can trigger deductions from winnings, explained below. Use our each-way calculator to check how a smaller field changes your returns.
NRNB, Rule 4 and the going
If you bet ante-post, weeks or months before a race, the going on the day is unknown, and a horse may not run if the ground goes against it. In a normal ante-post market your stake is lost if the horse is withdrawn. With non-runner no bet (NRNB) terms, it is returned instead, which is why NRNB is so valuable in the run-up to big meetings such as the Cheltenham Festival.
On the day of the race, a late withdrawal can lead to a Rule 4 deduction from winning bets struck at a price before the horse came out. The deduction is taken from your winnings, not your stake, and its size depends on the price of the withdrawn horse: the shorter it was, the bigger the deduction. Our horse racing betting guide covers NRNB, Rule 4 and Best Odds Guaranteed side by side.
Checking the going before you bet
Check the latest going on the morning of the race, not the description from earlier in the week. Overnight rain can move a course from good to firm to good, or from soft to heavy, and the market usually reacts quickly. If you have already backed a horse that needs fast ground and the rain arrives, there is little you can do, which is one reason to keep ante-post stakes modest unless NRNB applies.
The going is one factor among many, and even horses on their favourite ground get beaten. Use it to narrow your choices, not as a reason to stake more than you planned.
Common questions
Who decides the going at a racecourse?
The clerk of the course declares the official going. They walk the track, assess the ground and publish a description before the meeting, then update it on race day if the weather changes. Many courses also publish GoingStick readings to give a more precise picture of how firm the ground is.
What is the best going for racing?
There is no single best going. Good ground suits the widest range of horses, but some horses only show their best on soft or heavy ground and others need it fast. The right question is which going suits the particular horse you are thinking of backing, based on its previous runs.
Why do so many horses become non-runners when the going changes?
Trainers withdraw horses when the ground is unsuitable, either because firm ground puts extra strain on their legs or because very soft ground does not suit their style of racing. A big change in the going between declarations and race day often produces several non-runners.
Does the going matter on all-weather tracks?
Much less than on turf. All-weather surfaces are synthetic and stay fairly consistent, so most meetings are described as standard. The scale still runs from slow to fast, and some horses do prefer one surface or another, but the going changes far less often than it does on grass.