Each-Way AtlasGlossary: each-way, odds and racing terms
Going
Going is the description of the ground conditions on a racecourse, published for each meeting by the course. It is not worked out by a formula, and it describes the surface, not the horses. In UK racing it appears on racecards and race-day pages, and it can change as the day goes on.
Editorial team of Each-Way Atlas · Checked
What does going mean?
Going is a short description of how the ground is riding on the day. Racecourses publish it, and bookmakers repeat it on their racecards.
It matters because the same race can be run on different ground, and the description can change between morning and first race. A going report is a statement about turf or track, and it says nothing about which horse will win.
The short version: going describes the ground, comes from the racecourse, and can change during a race day.
Why does it relate to the size of the field?
Going can be one reason a horse is withdrawn, and a withdrawal changes the number of runners. The number of runners can change the places paid and the fraction on an each-way bet. This page does not publish statistics on how often that happens.
Read what happens when a horse is withdrawn in non-runners and Rule 4. For how runners and race type set the places, see places and fractions, and for one race type see handicap race.
The short version: a change in going can lead to withdrawals, and withdrawals can change the terms of an each-way bet.
Where is going published?
| Source | What to read | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Racecourse website for the meeting | Going description for each day of the meeting | Not verified |
| British Horseracing Authority (BHA) | Whether it publishes going or a scale of descriptions | Not verified |
| Bookmaker racecard | Going shown beside the race, with its time of update | Not verified |
We have not yet read these pages for this site, so the table lists what to capture and where. The scale of descriptions and its wording are taken only from the course or the BHA, with the date we read them.
The short version: check the racecourse page for the day, not a copy of it.
A note on safety
Going explains conditions, not outcomes. 18+ only. Gambling can be harmful. National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133, free, 24/7.
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