Going Stick Lottery

The ground that races are run on are crucial for punters to accurately assess a race and for trainers to judge whether their horses are actually going to run.

Going sticks were introduced to bring an element of consistency to what tracks are producing. I assume all of the sticks are of the same make and model. The higher the figure, the better the going.

How then can Hamilton state that their going for today is good to soft, soft in places, stick reading 8.3 and then Ascot state they have a stick reading of 6.1 on ground described as good, good to soft in places.

They both can't be right, the authorities do not seem to want to get involved and punters are left to guess what the going actually is going to be. In 2024 that just isn't good enough or acceptable.

It is inherently unfair and if you pardon the pun, an uneven playing field, it should be something that should be sorted immediately as a matter of urgency. Will it?

I think we all know the answer to that.