What is the Going?

In horse racing parlance, ‘going’ is the term used to describe underfoot conditions or, in other words, the state of the racing surface. Until 2009, the going was determined subjectively by the Clerk of the Course but, nowadays, is determined objectively by a device called a ‘GoingStick’, which is inserted into the racing surface and produces a numerical reading that reflects the amount of moisture in the ground.

In Britain, on turf racecourses, the going can be described as ‘firm’, ‘good to firm’, ‘good’, ‘good to soft’, ‘soft’ or ‘heavy’, depending upon the GoingStick reading. Historically, ‘hard’ was used to describe the driest, fastest underfoot conditions, but a GoingStick reading higher than 15, which corresponds to ‘firm’, is considered unraceable these days. On synthetic, all-weather racing surfaces, the going can be modified by harrowing or rolling, but is described as ‘fast’, ‘standard’ or ‘slow’, depending on the moisture content.

Some racehorses are capable of acting on any going, but most have specific going preferences, one way or the other. Horses with a high, rounded knee action, for example, often relish soft ground, while those with a low, ‘daisy cutter’ action often prefer faster underfoot conditions. Thus, accurate going descriptions are necessary for the safety of horse racing, in the first place, and to allow trainers, and punters, to make informed decisions about the suitability of the prevailing conditions for any horse.

What is handicap racing?

Handicap racing is based on the tried-and-tested notion that increasing the amount of weight that a horse carries in a race, relative to its rivals, will ultimately slow it down. In Britain, when a horse has run three, or possibly fewer, times, it is allocated an official handicap rating by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) handicapper. The official handicap rating expresses, in Imperial pounds, the perceived ability of the horse in the eyes of the handicapper and, in a handicap race, determines the weight the horse carries, subject to any weight allowance claimed by its jockey. Thus, in a handicap race for horses officially rated 81-100, if the highest weight to be carried is 9st 12lb a horse rated 93 would carry 9st 5lb, one rated 89 would carry 9st 1lb, and so on.

Handicap races, which comprise 60% of the horse races run annually in Britain, are intended to give each and every horse an equal chance of winning, at least in theory, thereby creating a competitive betting market and an exciting spectacle for spectators. Handicap ratings are reviewed race-by-race and may increase, decrease or remain unaltered, depending upon the performance of the horse in question. For example, if a horse wins a race, it is an entirely reasonable deduction that the horse has run better than its current official handicap rating to do so, so a rise in the weights, typically 6lb or 7lb, but possibly more, is warranted. Conversely, if a horse runs poorly, a fall in the weights may be appropriate, although the handicapper is likely to require confirmation, from two, three or more substandard performances, before taking any action.

What’s the difference between a win bet and an each-way bet?

A single win bet or, in other words, a win bet on just one horse, is the simplest and, often, most profitable bet that you can place. If your selection wins the race in question, you can expect a return equivalent to your original stake multiplied by the odds at which your selection was returned, a.k.a. ‘starting price’, or the odds offered before the race, if you took an ‘early’ or ‘board’ price, plus your original stake. For example, if place a £10 win bet on a selection at 10/1, you can expect a return of (10 x £10) +£100 = £110. Of course, if your selection does not win, your win bet is a loser.

By contrast, an each-way bet, a.k.a. a ‘win and place’ bet, is effectively two bets in one and therefore necessitates halving your stake, or doubling your outlay, when compared with a win bet. The first bet is a win bet, as above, while the second bet is a place bet, intended to provide a return if your selection fails to win, but finishes in the first two, three or possibly four, depending on the place terms offered on the race in question. It is possible to win both bets, lose the win bet, but win the place bet, or lose both bets. If your selection finishes in the prescribed places, including first place, your place bet returns your place stake multiplied by a fraction of the win odds, usually one-quarter or one-fifth, plus your original place stake.

What is Royal Ascot?

Royal Ascot is a five-day Flat racing meeting staged annually in June at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, South East England. Situated approximately six miles from Windsor Castle, Ascot Racecourse has long been associated with the British Royal Family. Every day of the Royal Meeting, from Tuesday to Saturday, at two o’clock sharp, the Royal Procession, headed by Her Majesty The Queen, arrives at the Royal Gates and makes its way up the straight mile course to the Royal Enclosure.

In 2020, Royal Ascot took place behind closed doors and, for the first time in her 68-year reign, the Queen did not attend. The schedule was expanded to include 36 races, six more than a ‘normal’ year, but still included eight of the 32 Group One races staged annually in Britain. The highlight was, as usual, the historic Gold Cup, first run in 1807 in the presence of King George III and Queen Charlotte. Under normal circumstances, Royal Ascot offers in excess of £8 million in total prize money, making it the most valuable race meeting in the country. Indeed, while only around 500 jockeys, trainers and support were allowed entry to the racecourse in 2020, the usual attendance is around 300,000 over the five days, making Royal Ascot one of the highlights of the British sporting and social calendar.

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