Take a look at any horse racing course in the UK and you'll see the diversenature of each of them, some may be similar but each race course has its own characteristics.
Along with the going and the distance the horse racing course needs close study, there are speed tracks, tracks where stamina is at a premium, undulating tracks and racecourses where the runners are always on the turn.
Some horses may lack the finishing speed to be in contention at the end of the race but given a stiff uphill finish they can use their stamina to gallop on, speed tracks require a horse to quicken when asked by its Jockey for an effort but some horses are simply unable to quicken and get outpaced at a crucial part of the race.
Its worthwile setting up your own horse racing course guide, it can be a basic description as the Flat race course guide set out below or as detailed as you like.
As set out on other pages on this site, a profile of where a horse has run well in the past will provide valuable clues.
A Basic Flat Horse Racing Course Guide
Race Course
Direction
Characteristics
Run-in
Ascot
R-H
Stiff Galloping
2.5 f
Ayr
L-H
Flat
4 f
Bath
L-H
On the sharp side, uphill finish
Appr 3 f
Beverley
R-H
Stiff uphill finish
Appr 2 f
Brighton
L-H
Undulating speed track
3.5 f
Carlisle
R-H
Undulating, stamina, stiff uphill finish
3.5 f
Catterick
L-H
Sharp speed track
Appr 3 f
Chepstow
L-H
Undulating, galloping
Appr 5 f
Chester
L-H
Very Sharp
2 f
Doncaster
L-H
Flat, galloping, stamina
5 f
Epsom
L-H
Undulating, sharp, speed track with an uphill finish
Appr 4 f
Folkstone
R-H
Undulating, sharp turns
2.5 f
Goodwood
R-H
Undulating speed track
Appr 4 f
Great Leighs
L-H
All weather circuit sweeping turns
2 f
Hamilton
R-H
Undulating, stiff up hill finish
5 f
Haydock
L-H
Flat Galloping
4.5 f
Kempton
R-H
Polytrack surface fair track
min 2f
Leicester
R-H
Flat Galloping
5 f
Lingfield (AW)
L-H
On the sharp side
Appr 2 f
Lingfield (Turf)
L-H
Sharp undulating
Appr 3.5 f
Mussleburgh
R-H
Flat, galloping, sharp turns
4 f
Newbury
L-H
Galloping
4.5 f
Newcastle
L-H
Galloping, stamina, uphill run in
4 f
Newmarket (Rowley course)
n/a
Galloping with a dip just over 1f out stiff uphill finish
