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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.
Sandown Park is the Melbourne Racing Club's second racecourse.
It is regularly used for midweek and Sunday racing.
Racing is now conducted on two tracks, Lakeside, which closely
resembles the former track, and Hillside. When creating a totally new
track, Hillside, the Melbourne Racing Club also increased the width of
the Sandown straight from 30 metres to 45 metres. Below is the layout
of the former track.
Lakeside Track
This track closely resembles the former track.
The most noticeable change is that races can use the full
45 metres width of the main straight. The Lakeside track uses new ground
created on the inside of the former track commencing at the 600 metres
mark.
The area from the 1400 metres to the 600 metres races over
part of the old track. But extra track has also been added so that the
width is a constant 30 metres.
Lakeside's cicumference is 1857 metres, which is 34 metres
less than the old circuit. The length of the straight is the same - 407
metres. The rise in the ground in the main straight from the 400 metres
mark to the winning post has increased from 65 centimetres to 90 centimetres.
This makes the track an even tougher test.
Lakeside Track Barrier Guide
1000 metres: There are no races over this
distance on the track.
1200 metres: Situated on the course proper there is a straight
run of about 350 metres to the sweeping double turn to the home straight.
Inside barriers are a slight advantage.
1300 metres: Similar to the 1300 metres start. There is a straight
run of about 450 metres to the sweeping turn to the home straight. Inside
barriers are a slight advantage.
1600 metres: This barrier is located in
a chute off the back straight. There is a straight run of about 750 metres
to the sweeping double bend to the home straight. Inside barriers are
a slight advantage.
2100 metres: This barrier is located in the home straight
approximately 200 metres from the winning post. Inside barriers have an
advantage.
2200 metres: This barrier is located in the home straight
approximately 300 metres from the winning post. Inside barriers have an
advantage.
Hillside Track
Races conducted on the Hillside track use the outside 30
metres section of the main straight. A moveable rail is positioned along
the length of the straight to protect the inside 15 metres for the Lakeside
track.
This new track has an increased circumference of 2087 metres.
The length of the main straight is 491 metres, compared to 407 metres
for the former Sandown track and the Lakeside track.
However, the rise in the ground in the main straight from
the 400 metres mark to the winning post is 65 centimetres, the same as
the former Sandown track.
Hillside Track Barrier Guide
1000 metres: Located in a shoot which merges
with the outer home turn, there is a straight run of about 400 metres
to the home turn. Inside barriers are a slight advantage.
1300 metres: Situated on the course proper there is a straight
run of about 300 metres to the sweeping double turn to the home straight.
Inside barriers have an advantage.
1400 metres: Similar to the 1300 metres start, situated on the
course proper there is a straight run of about 400 metres to the sweeping
double turn to the home straight. Inside barriers have a slight advantage.
1500 metres: Similar to the 1400 metres
start, situated on the course proper there is a straight run of about
500 metres to the sweeping double turn to the home straight. Inside barriers
have a slight advantage.
1600 metres: This barrier is located in a chute off the back
straight. There is a straight run of about 600 metres to the sweeping
double bend to the home straight. Inside barriers are a slight advantage.
1800 metres: This barrier is located in
a chute off the back straight. There is a long straight run of about 800
metres to the sweeping double bend to the home straight. Inside barriers
are a slight advantage.
2200 metres: This barrier is located in
the home straight only about 100 metres from the winning post. Inside
barriers are a significant advantage.
2400 metres: Similar to the 2200 metrs start, this barrier
is located in the home straight about 300 metres from the winning post.
Inside barriers are an advantage.
Details for the Former Track
It has a circumference of 1,891 metres. The straight is
407 metres long.
The turns on the course are all banked making the going heavier near
the rails in wet weather which of course means if your horse is forced
to race near the rails it has little chance.
In the home straight jockeys often go to the centre of the track and
when the rail is moved out often take their mounts to the outside rail.
From all starts there is plenty of straight before the first turn giving
all horses a fair chance of getting a good position.
It is a very difficult track for horses to lead throughout and win.
Many horses are taken to the lead too early in the home straight only
to be run down near the finishing line by a swooper. It is often best
not to hit the lead until the last 50 metres.
It is a course for specialists. Many horses race much better at
Sandown than anywhere else. Horses who race well at the provincial track
at Geelong usually do well at Sandown.
Barrier Guide
1000 metres: This barrier is located at
the end of a long chute. There is an excellent straight run of about 600
metres to the home turn. Inside barriers are a slight advantage.
1200 metres: Situated on the course proper in the back of the
straight. There is a straight run of about 400 metres to the sweeping
double bend to the home straight. Inside barriers are a slight advantage.
1400 metres: Similar to the 1200 metres start. There is a straight
run of about 600 metres to the sweeping double bend to the home straight.
Inside barriers are a slight advantage.
1500 metres: This barrier is located in a chute off the back
straight. There is a straight run of about 700 metres to the sweeping
double bend to the home straight. Inside barriers are a slight advantage.
1600 metres: Similar to the 1500 metres start. There is a straight
run of about 800 metres to the sweeping double bend to the home straight.
Inside barriers are a slight advantage. There is also a common misconception
that outside barriers are an advantage in big fields.
2100 metres: This barrier is located in the home straight.
There is a good straight run of about 400 metres to the first sweeping
double bend. Inside barriers are a slight advantage.
2400 metres: This barrier starts in a chute at the top
of the home straight. This is where the Sandown Cup starts. There is a
good run straight run of about 700 metres to the first sweeping double
bend. Inside barriers are a slight advantage.
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