Why are some horses track specialists?

Why do some tracks produce nightmare results for punters?

Why do some tracks favour leaders?

These answers and more can be found in our descriptions of Australia's main horse racing tracks. 

Randwick, is the Australian Jockey Club's main racecourse.

It has a circumference of 2,213 metres. The straight is 410 metres long and 30 metres wide at the winning post. About 300 metres from the winning post there is a slight uphill grade known as the rise.

Smart jockeys who ride the track well do not exert their mounts up the rise. They wait until they have topped the rise and then make their final sprint to the winning post.

Randwick is a roomy course with sweeping bends. Big striding gallopers can stretch right out. In theory the track should give every runner a fair chance. In theory good horses should have their opportunity to win in the straight.

In practice this has not been the case. A very poor wet weather track, there has been a huge amount of track bias even when only slightly rain affected. On pace runners are often favoured, though depending on the rail movements sometimes next to the rails has been a slow lane.

Renovations are now in progress. Let's hope it results in a fairer and better punting track.

Barrier Guide

1000 metres: There is a straight run of nearly 600 metres to the home turn. Inside barriers are a slight advantage.

1200 metres: Similar to the 1000 metres. There is pretty much a straight run of nearly 800 metres to the home turn. Inside barriers are a slight advantage.

1400 metres: This barrier is located in a chute off the course proper. There is an angled run of 450 metres to the first corner then a good straight run to the home turn. Inside barriers have a slight advantage.

1600 metres: This barrier is located in a chute off the course proper. There is a straight run of 650 metres to the first turn. A very fair start, inside barriers have a slight advantage.

2000 metres: This barrier starts on the course proper in the turn out of the straight. Runners are on a turn for 450 metres. Field sizes are restricted. Inside barriers have a big advantage.

2400 metres: This barrier starts on the course proper only 200 metres before the winning post, after which runners enter the sweeping double turn out of the straight. Inside barriers have a clear advantage.

2600 metres: This barrier starts on the course proper 400 metres before the winning post, after which runners enter the sweeping double turn out of the straight. Inside barriers have an advantage.

3200 metres: The Sydney Cup start. This barrier starts near the 1000 metres start. There is a straight run of nearly 600 metres to the first turn. Inside barriers are a slight advantage.

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