Going (horse racing)

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Going is the track’s surface condition before a horse race. It shows how soft or firm the ground is, mainly from how much moisture is in the soil. Officials judge the going on race day by looking at the track and using a penetrometer, a tool that measures how hard the ground is to push into. The going depends on the surface type (dirt, turf, or artificial) and factors like soil type, density, porosity, compaction, and moisture.

A track rating is published before racing to help bettors and trainers. If it rains before a meeting, an earlier check may be done to decide if the meeting can go ahead. During a meeting, tracks can be upgraded (firmer) or downgraded (softer) as conditions change. Jockeys may also inspect the track during riding if safety is in doubt on a wet or softer surface.

Regional ratings differ:

- Australia: Since 2014, a 10-point scale from Firm 1 to Heavy 10 is used, replacing Fast/Dead/Slow with Firm and Soft while keeping Good and Heavy. AWT means All Weather Track and is treated as a Good surface under some bad weather.

- United Kingdom and Ireland: There are seven grades of going. Since 2009, Going readings are published with penetrometer measurements using the GoingStick; Hard going is rare. Ireland uses "yielding" for "good to soft." There are also official grades for artificial tracks.

- United States: Turf and dirt tracks use different rating systems. All-weather (artificial) tracks use the dirt rating system.