Woodbine
 

question for someone familiar with Woodbine...at my simulcast facility when betting Woodbine turf races we see on the screen "Going Stick Reading" 11.0.
then the next day the number changed to 11.1...what does this mean?

It is a measurement of how soft/hard the surface is. I would imagine an 11 would indicate a firm course.

Ray

Some online references to the 'Going Stick' for measuring surface firmness (developed in the UK):

http://www.turftrax.co.uk/goingstick.html
http://www.pitchcare.com/magazine/the-going-stick.html

"The GoingStick

The GoingStick is a result of collaboration between TurfTrax Racing Data and Cranfield University. It is vaguely similar in appearance and application to an ordinary walking stick, the method favoured by many Clerks of the Course in the UK. But, unlike a walking stick, the GoingStick measures the penetration resistance of the surface, to a depth of 100mm, and the translational shear strength of the rootzone, in an action that almost mimics the loading and propulsion phases of a galloping horse.

It can be used in conjunction with a waypoint system that identifies specific sections of the racecourse to enable the assessment of the level of going in a given area (waypoint). At each waypoint the process of measuring penetration resistance and shear strength is carried out three times. The GoingStick then determines a mean value for the three measurements and converts the mean to a value of going, based on a 15 point index.

Literally, thousands upon thousands of measurements were taken to form the 15 point scale, which was developed with the assistance of the British Horseracing Authority's senior course inspector and a number of experienced senior racecourse clerks. As a guide, average readings of 3.0-6.9 indicate softer ground, 7.0-8.9 good ground, with anything above 9.0 signifying firmer ground. The highest average readings actually raced on in the UK are around 12.0. "

11 and 11.1 indicates pretty firm turf.

Ted

The “Going Stick” is a device that measures the amount of pressure needed to penetrate the ground. It is based on a rating system from 0 to 15, 0 being soft, and 15 being hard. They take readings all around the turf course on race day and average out the measurements for a final reading.

Since it’s inception at Woodbine, the turf course generally rates between 10.5 and 11. The turf course at Woodbine gets watered daily, so it is very unlikely you will ever see a rating higher than 11, but with the rains that we have had lately, it has dipped down to around 9 at times. The turf course should be shut down for the season very soon, if they haven’t done so already..... bummer, next comes that awful white stuff.

Going Stick
http://www.turftrax.co.uk/images/GSAINandMike.jpg

On a sidenote, the Poly track at Woodbine has come to the end of it’s lifecycle and needs to be replaced. They are talking about three options, re/re with Poly again, try another synthetic surface like Tapeta, or go back to dirt.

For me dirt is not an option, with the weather we get up here the racing is much better served with a synthetic surface. Whether it’s rain or snow, the Poly surface holds safe footing for the horses as well as providing a distinct bias for those that are observant, it’s a win win for the horses and horseplayers. After following Keeneland the last few weeks, the racing and the prices were much better served when the track was Poly, in my opinion. I have a feeling that the WEG would like to host a Breeders Cup in the future, and that would mean a return to dirt, no thanks.

In my opinion they should stick with the Poly, the only downside to all of this is the re/re will cut into next season’s schedule.

I received this email from Tim Yatcak on the subject of the Going Stick and its usage at Woodbine. Thanks Tim.

"EVER see them use this thing? Jim Bannon, and rightly so, thinks it is preposterous as there is NO uniformity to it. The standard penethrometer used throughout Europe is FAR more standardized. The trackman just SHOVES the thing into the ground using his foot like you and I would on a shovel (NO consistency in how hard that blow is event to event). This maneuver is repeated 20 or so times around the course to get an average. I have watched the rather SUBJECTIVE application. Then, ONCE in the ground, the trackman leans the entire device over lateral ways until the TOP part of the device is parallel with the ground, and only THEN takes a reading. So, if anything, they are measuring SUB surface SHEAR, not penetration.

The Penethrometer on the other hand (the WORLD'S standard) has a STANDARD weight (uniformity) dropped from a standard height (uniformity) to measure the amount of direct PRESSURE it takes to penetrate the depth it penetrates the ground. That is what the device then records.

So it is completely RANDOM how deep the device goes down in the ground so one effort may record the shear from 5 inches and another effort 7. That is the ambiguity Bannon expressed to me
Also HOW FAR UNDER the ground becomes totally RELEVANT to the surface? The Penethrometer is a better and more uniform measurement. Imagine a rain that only soaked two inches on a hard under surface and the used penetrated DEEPLY one effort and superficially the next? How objective is that? If the tip of the going stick got into the more firm area it could easily give a totally erroneous reading of the TOP of the ground where footing really matters.
Irwin Dreidiger is the guy to talk to about uniformity of this thing but SO far I am with Bannon on its being effective."

Ted