At The Races’ Data Revolution – But Will the BHA Tackle the Lazy Going Measurements?

At The Races has delivered a data-driven revolution with its suite of advanced metrics, offering punters unprecedented insights through Jumping Fluency, 0-30 mph acceleration, Top Speed, and Final Speed. Developed with Total Performance Data (TPD), these metrics add a scientific dimension to racing analysis, equipping fans and bettors with the kind of detailed information that could change how they approach race-day decisions. It’s a breakthrough that’s long overdue for an industry that still largely relies on old-fashioned methods. But as forward-thinking as At The Races’ metrics are, they’re only as accurate as the conditions they’re based on – and here lies the rub.

While At The Races is pushing racing into the modern age, some courses can’t even get the basics right. Thirsk and Wetherby, for example, are still relying on subjective, outdated methods to measure going, sometimes using little more than a stick and guesswork, if they remember to take them.Whilst the BHA jump on jockeys and trainers for failing to meet the standards expected, the courses seem immune to such treatment And where’s the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) in all this? Nowhere to be seen, it seems. While the BHA and Great British Racing focus on glossy PR and social media promotions, punters are left betting on “good-to-soft” ground based on a vague poke at the turf.

Cutting-Edge Data Meets a Crumbling Foundation

The new metrics from At The Races bring a whole new level of depth to race analysis:

• Jumping Fluency: Tracks how efficiently horses approach and clear fences, rating their energy conservation with a grade from A to E. This is crucial for longer jumps races, where stamina conservation is key.

• 0-30 MPH Acceleration: Reveals how quickly a horse reaches 30 mph, highlighting its ability to grab an early lead—a valuable metric for sprints and short Flat races.

• Top Speed and Final Speed: These metrics capture peak performance and finishing power, respectively, giving punters insights into a horse’s stamina and speed capacity.

Each of these tools can transform how punters approach their bets. However, accurate interpretation of these stats requires a reliable baseline for the going. Track conditions profoundly impact a horse’s performance, but if courses like Thirsk and Wetherby can’t be bothered to measure going with even a basic level of accuracy, then the effectiveness of these cutting-edge metrics is compromised. Punters are left with state-of-the-art data layered atop guesswork.

Where is the BHA? Holding Lazy Clerks Accountable

You’d think the BHA, as the governing body, would make it their business to ensure that going is measured with the same precision now expected of sectional data. Yet, they appear focused on the “dumb punter” angle, assuming fans will be content with TV ads and free pens rather than reliable data. While racing moves towards sophisticated tech with GPS-tracked times and fluency ratings, some Clerks of the Course are still relying on their instincts—or, when they’re feeling particularly rigorous, a stick to prod the turf in some cases.

Shouldn’t the BHA enforce a standardized approach to going measurements? After all, if courses report conditions as “good-to-firm” when they’re actually closer to “soft,” punters are left placing bets based on misinformation. The BHA should be holding these lazy clerks accountable, requiring accurate, tech-driven going measurements across the board. And yet, all we hear is silence.

Imagine the Possibilities with Accurate Going Data

If courses like Thirsk and Wetherby committed to standardised going measurements, racing analysis could leap to new heights. Sectional pars—benchmark times for each race segment based on course layout, distance, and going—would become a reality. With reliable going data, sectional pars could allow punters to assess how well each horse is pacing itself relative to ideal race conditions.

Future Metrics That Depend on Accurate Going:

1. Sectional Pars for Course, Distance, and Going: Benchmark times tailored to track nuances, race length, and actual going. Punters could instantly see if a horse is on pace, expending too much energy, or holding back for a strong finish.

2. Fatigue Factor: This metric would analyze the drop-off between Top Speed and Final Speed, indicating whether a horse has the stamina for long races. Accurate going data would show whether a high fatigue factor is due to challenging ground or the horse’s limitations.

3. Environmental Resilience: With standardized going and weather data, punters could identify horses that perform consistently on different track types, giving them confidence to bet in variable conditions.

The BHA’s failure to enforce accurate going measurements means these predictive possibilities are left unrealised. Racing TV, Great British Racing, and other platforms could join At The Races in building a comprehensive, data-driven experience, but without reliable track conditions, advanced analytics will always be compromised. Punters will continue making decisions based on hazy reports rather than hard facts.

The Bottom Line: Racing is Ready for Change, but the BHA Needs to Act

At The Races is leading the charge, showing just how powerful sectional data can be when done right. But until courses adopt standardized going measurements and the BHA enforces consistent track reporting, punters will be left to bridge the gap between cutting-edge metrics and medieval going reports. The racing industry has the technology to capture everything down to stride frequency, yet some courses are still casually guessing at the going.

Imagine the power of betting on a race where the going, sectional pars, and fatigue factors are all accurate and aligned. With reliable data, punters wouldn’t just be analyzing past performances—they’d be predicting future winners. If the BHA and Great British Racing are serious about engaging fans, they should demand the same data-driven approach from Clerks of the Course that At The Races is bringing to the rest of the sport.

It’s time for the BHA to step up, hold lazy clerks accountable, and embrace the data age that’s unfolding right before them. Until then, punters are left with sophisticated analytics on a foundation of guesswork – and the potential for racing’s golden age of data remains just out of reach.