In horse racing, yielding is a term used to describe the ground condition of a racecourse. You will come across this description at turf courses where the ground can either be firm or soft, depending on the amount of rain.
Yielding is described when the ground is softer than ‘Good’ but it is not soft enough to be labelled as ‘Soft’ or ‘Heavy’. For it to be yielding, there needs to be a significant amount of rain based into the course.
There are seven types of ground conditions in horse racing on turf: Firm, Good, Good to Firm, Good to Soft, Yielding, Soft and Heavy. A correct ground description is important as horses run better in certain conditions, so the trainer will use this piece of information to decide whether they want their horse to participate or not. Here is a brief description for each going.
Firm: As the name suggests, this is the firmest going a racecourse can be. It means the ground is fast and the race times often reflect that, as they tend to be quicker than the standard times.
Good: When the ground is ‘Good’, it is softer than ‘Firm’ but there is very little give in the ground.
Good to Firm: This going is used to describe ground that is somewhere between ‘Good’ and ‘Firm’.
Good to Soft: This going is used to describe ground that is somewhere between ‘Good’ and ‘Soft’.
Yielding: As explained at the start of this what is yielding ground section, with a ‘Yielding’ going, there is moisture in the ground, but is not quite enough to describe the ground as being ‘Soft’.
Soft: When there is a significant amount of moisture in the ground through rainfall or watering, it is described as ‘Soft’.
Heavy: This is the softest and most testing condition a racecourse can be. This occurs through heavy rainfall and races tend to be run much slower when the going is ‘Heavy’.
A racecourse can be described as ‘Yielding’ but either ‘Soft’ in places or ‘Heavy’ in places. This going means the majority of the racecourse is ‘Yielding’ but there are small areas of the track that are softer or heavier.
Horse racing punters will also consider the ground type before making their bet on a race. They can see how each horse has performed on yielding ground and other conditions before. These performances are likely to be factored into the horse racing odds for a race.
At major meetings like the Cheltenham Festival, ground conditions can have a big impact on the result of a big race, like the Cheltenham Gold Cup or Champion Hurdle. As you can see from the Cheltenham Festival odds, some trainers enter their horses in more than one race at this four-day meeting, just in case the ground conditions go against their horse in their primary target.
The clerk of the course at the Cheltenham Festival has a lot of pressure on his shoulders, as they must ensure the ground at the track suits most of the horses that will be participating. They will keep a close eye on the weather forecast ahead of the meeting and throughout the week.
Is yielding ground soft?
Yielding ground is considered as soft, and it is a type of going that many Jumps horses enjoy. The moisture in the ground makes it softer than ‘Good’, however, it is not softer than a going that is described as ‘Soft’.
When the going at a racecourse is ‘Soft’, horses tend to run slower, as the conditions make it more challenging for the runners. The ground is even more testing when it is labelled as ‘Heavy’. You will often see mud from the ground and the race times will be a lot slower than the standard times for the distance.
Do heavier horses run faster on soft ground?
The ground condition is not always linked with how well heavier horses run in the sport. The most significant factor is their breeding. If a horse’s sire or dam performed well on soft ground, there is a strong chance they too will appreciate the going.
In handicap races, the better horses in the field have more weight on their backs to make it a fairer race. In testing conditions, carrying top weight can often be a greater challenge. The Grand National is the most famous handicap race in the world, and very few horses have prevailed in the race from top weight, particularly on ‘Soft’ or ‘Heavy’ ground.
Another factor to consider is how well certain trainers do on soft ground. For example, leading Jumps trainer Venetia Williams is known for having success on ‘Heavy’ ground with her horses. Williams has a total of 91 winners on heavy ground, more than any other UK National Hunt trainer. She has her horses as fit as possible when they appear on a racecourse, and their stamina tends to stand up well against their rivals.
What is Yielding to Soft?
The going ‘Yielding to Soft’ is used when the ground is somewhere between ‘Yielding’ and ‘Soft’. The ground staff are unable to commit to either of those two descriptions, so they opt for ‘Yielding to Soft’ as their conclusion.
What causes a yielding track?
There are several factors that can cause a racecourse to have yielding ground. The first is the amount of rainfall before a meeting. The ground will absorb the rain and if a significant amount falls, then it can turn ‘Good’ or ‘Firm’ ground into ‘Yielding’.
It is possible for ground conditions to change from race to race at a meeting. The racecourse team will discuss the conditions with the jockeys after every race. They also will examine the ground and if they believe the going has changed from the start of the meeting, they make an announcement.
A turf track can also become yielding if the ground staff water their course in the build-up to racing. If there is a dry period, the clerk of the course will decide how much water to add to a track and this may create yielding conditions.
