How does the ground affect the way certain horses run?

Question

How does the ground affect the way certain horses run?

Answer 1

Some horses prefer different race tracks. I used to own a filly who was super tough at Santa Anita but wouldnt run a jump at Hollywood Park. In fact after a race at Hollywood Park one day when the jockey was asked how the race went he told us she couldnt hardly stand on the track let alone run on it.

Answer 2

With the emergence of Polytrack it appears that horses with known foot problems have an easier time on Polytrack than dirt. Also Turf horses stay sound longer on  turf, which in my opinion also brought on a lot of tracks switching to Polytrack (or Tapeta developed by trainer Michael Dickinson).

A lot goes into pedigree in the long run too. Turf specialists tend to throw turf specialists, but that's not  written in stone. Holy Bull has turned out to be a great Turf Sire, as has Dynaformer. Dynaformer's offspring excel on both turf and dirt.

Answer 3

I have to agree with Kathyrn it is a preference thing.  Some horses run better on dirt than turf and some run better on a muddy or sloppy track rather than a fast track and the other way around.

Answer 4

some horses like different tracks. horses for courses. if a turf champion has a baby, due to the fact that not to many races are turf sprints, the baby will run a few races on the dirt, then stretch out to a mile or 1 1/16 on the turf, and people will say" look it's a hot play going to the turf today, no it's just, we don't have many turf sprints for maidens in the united states, as far a an off track, many years ago a horse would love the off going, but now it seems the best horse wins the race in a slower time, and if you put all your dreams of winning with the racing form, you are better off taking that 5 dollars and getting a small hot dog and small coke, everyone at the track, has a form and sees the same c**p.

Answer 5

It's a matter of preference for the horse -- some prefer dirt; some prefer turf; some prefer an "off" track (mud or slop).  If you look at the past performances in the Racing Form, you can see what the track conditions were for races a particular horse won, which gives you a good idea what that horse likes.