Canterbury Racecourse Track Bias

Canterbury is one of the smallest metropolitan race tracks in the country with the entire circumference covering only 1567 metres including a straight of 300 m. The turns on each side of the track are a long arc on a broad angle which can make the extra trip longer for wide runners or backmarkers trying to improve. Racing history at the track has shown that the ideal position for horses is in the top half of the field, creating an inherent bias to leaders and front runners. The further out the rail from it's True position the more apparent this bias appears to be.

Backmarkers typically find their job much harder at Canterbury with the short straights and long turns making it hard to set a racing plan for success. Barriers tend to play a significant role with inside positions favoured when it suits the horse's early speed and running style. Barrier statistics since 2008 show better strike rates for the inside barriers, with success rates reducing for each wider barriers. This trend holds from the 1100 to 1900 m. Insider draws are favoured mostly for the 1000, 1100 and 1550 metre courses.

Mike Steward