The Horse Racing Draw is a critical factor in UK horse racing, affecting the outcomes of flat races run on turf and all weathr tracks.
British Racecourses explains how the draw works, why it matters, and how it influences betting strategies. Understanding the horse racing draw gives bettors an edge when predicting race results.
Find out more about horse racing draw bias:
Contents
- 1 What is the Draw in Horse Racing?
- 2 How Does the Draw Work in British and Irish Horse Racing?
- 3 Why Does the Draw Matter in Horse Racing?
- 4 What Actually Makes a Draw Bias?
- 5 How Race Distance Influences the Draw’s Impact
- 6 How Bettors Use Draw Bias to Inform Betting Strategies
- 7 Who does the draw work in British horse racing?
- 8 Common Misconceptions About the Horse Racing Draw
- 9 Race Draw at UK Racecourses
- 10 Horse Racing Tracks with a Notable Draw Bias
- 11 Summary of Racing Draw Bias
What is the Draw in Horse Racing?
The draw in horse racing determines the starting stall position assigned to each horse before a flat race.
The draw is made at random by Weatherbys (the governing body of British racing) on the day declarations are made. Horses start from numbered stalls positioned across the track. Low numbers represent stalls near the inside rail, while high numbers are positioned toward the outside.
The draw can significantly impact a horse’s performance, with certain positions offering advantages based on the course layout, ground conditions, and race distance.
How Does the Draw Work in British and Irish Horse Racing?
In British horse racing, the draw is conducted for flat races only.
The term “draw” or “stall berth” refers to the horse’s starting position across the course. For example, a horse drawn in number 1 will start from stall 1, while a horse drawn in number 8 will start from stall 8.
The same principle applies in Irish horse racing, where the draw is conducted randomly by Horse Racing Ireland (the governing body of Irish racing).
No draw is needed for National Hunt racing in either country, as these races do not use starting stalls.
Why Does the Draw Matter in Horse Racing?
The draw directly affects a horse’s starting position and influences the path it takes around the track.
Some UK racecourses show a strong stall berth bias, where certain starting positions give horses a distinct advantage.
At Chester Racecourse, for example, the tight turns mean that a low draw near the inside rail is advantageous, allowing horses to save ground by taking a shorter route. Conversely, on straight courses like Newmarket or Ascot, the impact of the draw varies based on ground conditions or the pace of the race. Knowledge of draw bias can provide significant insights for bettors looking to predict race outcomes.
What Actually Makes a Draw Bias?
Several factors create a draw bias in horse racing. The main elements influencing the advantage or disadvantage of different draw positions include:
- Ground Conditions: The state of the turf affects which draw positions are favorable. Softer ground can make the inside rail slower, making higher-numbered stalls more beneficial. For example, Dundalk in Ireland often sees horses coming off the rail to find quicker ground.
- Tight-Turning Tracks: On tight-turning tracks, horses drawn in low-number stalls benefit from a shorter, more economical route. The Chester draw bias is a classic example of this, where horses need a low draw to save distance during their run. Horses caught wide on such tracks cover extra yardage, which can be detrimental.
- Being Drawn Near the Pace: In large-field races on straight tracks, horses positioned near the pace-setters often gain an advantage. If confirmed front-runners are drawn in specific stalls, horses nearby can benefit from following the pace and getting a clear run.
- Being Drawn Near the Rail: Some horses perform better when drawn near the rail, helping them maintain a straight course. Horses drawn on the outer can lose ground if they jink right or left, while racing against the rail helps maintain an efficient line.
- Fresher Strip of Ground: A fresher strip of ground on a particular part of the track can also create a draw bias. If earlier races have churned up the softer ground near the far rail, horses drawn on the near side may benefit from running on the less-disturbed ground.
How Race Distance Influences the Draw’s Impact
The distance of a race affects the importance of the draw.
In shorter sprint races (5-6 furlongs), draw bias is more pronounced as horses have limited time to adjust their position.
A favourable draw provides a decisive edge in these sprints, with inside stalls often preferred for quick starts and saving ground.
In longer races, there is more opportunity for jockeys to navigate into better positions, reducing the draw’s influence. Bettors must consider race distance when assessing how the draw might impact the outcome.
How Bettors Use Draw Bias to Inform Betting Strategies
Bettors analyse draw bias to identify potential advantages in different races.
Some racecourses, like Chester, Goodwood, and Beverley, are known for having strong draw biases, particularly in races over shorter distances. Understanding historical data about draw performance on specific courses allows bettors to make more accurate predictions.
British Racecourses provides comprehensive draw bias statistics, helping punters refine their strategies and gain an edge in the market.
Who does the draw work in British horse racing?
A British horse racing draw is made at random by Weatherbys (think of them as the governors of British racing) on the day declarations are made.
The barrier draw is done for flat races only and the term “draw “or “stall berth” is the position across the course from where the horses must start the race.
Some horse racing tracks stall berth bias can play a significant part in determining the outcome of the race and knowledge of this factor can provide a distinct advantage to the punter.
The horse racing draws are done to decide which stall a horse comes out of.
Here are examples of the horse racing draw:
- A horse drawn number 1 will come out of stall 1
- A horse being drawn 6 will come out of stall 6
- Drawn number 8 means the racehorse will be loaded into stall 8
Common Misconceptions About the Horse Racing Draw
A common misconception is that a high draw is always a disadvantage.
While high draws can be less favourable on tight-turning courses, they can be beneficial on tracks with straight stretches or when the ground conditions make the inside rail slower. Betting strategies should consider a range of factors beyond the draw, including the horse’s running style, jockey tactics, and the likely pace of the race.
Race Draw at UK Racecourses
Not all UK or Irish racecourses have a draw advantage.
But for horse racing tipsters if you know which race tracks have a draw bias and in particular what types of races are influenced can hugely help your predictions on the race outcome.
Here is a list of racecourses and draw advantage information:
- ASCOT RACES – In large fields over the straight course the draw advantage appears to favour those stalled near either rail
- AYR RACES – In large fields over the straight course low numbers are favoured
- BATH RACES – Low numbers are favoured in races up to a mile
- BEVERLEY RACES – High numbers have an advantage in races up to one mile rather than horses drawn low. Low on soft ground conditions is preferrable
- BRIGHTON RACES – In sprint races low stall numbers tend to have an advantage
- CARLISLE RACES – High stall numbers have an advantage in races up to a mile
- CATTERICK RACES – Low stall numbers have an advantage in races up to seven furlongs
- CHELMSFORD RACES – All Weather track has no draw advantage or draw biases
- CHESTER RACES – A low draw and a fast start give a distinct advantage in sprints
- DONCASTER RACES – High stall numbers have an advantage on the straight course. And low numbers are favoured on the round course
- EPSOM RACES – High numbers best over 5f and 6f, low numbers best from 7f to 1m 2f
- FFOS LAS RACES – No significant draw advantage or draw biases
- GOODWOOD RACES – Low numbers are best in sprints, though a fast start is equally important
- HAMILTON RACES – Middle to high numbers best in sprints, especially on soft ground horses drawn high have a big advantage
- HAYDOCK RACES – In 5f and 6f races on soft ground high numbers have an advantage.
- KEMPTON RACES – The All-Weather track is low numbers best in races 5f to 7f
- LEICESTER RACES – High stall numbers are best on the straight course
- LINGFIELD ALL WEATHER RACES – No significant advantage or draw biases
- LINGFIELD TURF RACES – Significant advantage to those drawn high in races between 5f to 7f
- MUSSELBURGH RACES – In races up to a mile high numbers are usually at an advantage
- NEWBURY RACES – High numbers are best in large fields, especially on very soft or heavy ground conditions
- NEWCASTLE ALL WEATHER RACES – No draw bias on the all-weather surface
- NEWMARKET JULY COURSE – No significant advantage or draw biases
- NEWMARKET ROWLEY MILE – Any advantage in the draw is dependent on the position of the stalls
- NOTTINGHAM RACES – The advantage of the draw is dependent on the position of the stalls
- PONTEFRACT RACES – Low stall numbers are best in sprints
- REDCAR RACES – Middle to high numbers have a decided advantage on the straight course
- RIPON RACES – Low number draw favoured on the sprint course except when the going is soft or heavy
- ROYAL ASCOT RACES – No draw advantage or draw biases
- SALISBURY RACES – Low numbers at an advantage in sprints when the going is soft
- SANDOWN RACES – High numbers best in sprints, especially in large fields on soft going
- SOUTHWELL RACES – All Weather: 5f None, 6f Low best
- THIRSK RACES – High numbers best on the straight course, low numbers best at 7f & 1m
- WINDSOR RACES – High numbers hold a slight advantage in sprints
- WOLVERHAMPTON RACES – All Weather: No draw advantage or draw biases
- YARMOUTH RACES – High numbers are best on the straight course, especially in large fields
- YORK RACES – Low to middle numbers best on the straight track, especially when soft going prevails
Knowing which horse racing tracks have a draw bias can greatly improve your chances of making your horse racing betting more profitable.
Horse Racing Tracks with a Notable Draw Bias
Some racecourse owners have done their best over the years to negate any draw bias their course may have had.
All horse racing tracks may have a bias on a given day, but these are the notable track biases still regarded as noteworthy by professional punters:
Ascot Draw Bias
Ascot is known by shrewd sports bettors to have a draw bias on their straight course.
In big races, most notably at Royal Ascot, when the entire track is covered by a large field the near side tends to show up best.
That would make those drawn in high stalls favoured. While there is no bend to take, the bias may come from the ground being fresher on the stands side.
Beverley Draw Bias
Beverley is a very tight, right-handed track and so those drawn low are very much given an advantage as long as they can handle the turn OK.
Catterick Draw Bias
In races over 5-7 furlongs, those drawn low have a marked advantage here. There is a tight bend at Catterick (left-handed), but even over the minimum trip the field slightly bears left meaning those on the far side are favoured.
Chester Draw Bias
Chester is a tight one-mile left-handed oval and so the make-up of the course itself will always lead to favourable and unfavourable draws.
In all races at this track, a low draw will be best as taking Chester’s turns any more than three or so horses wide will mean covering a noticeable amount of extra ground.
Newmarket Draw Bias
When runners are across the track in races such as the 2000 Guineas, those drawn high near the stands side have definitely faired best.
Summary of Racing Draw Bias
The shrewd sports betting punters assess many things like the form, the distance of the race, the ground conditions and even which jockey is on board.
But some often overlooked is the draw and this is very important over certain distances or at particular racecourses.
Which stall a horse is drawn in can influence that particular horse’s chance of winning.
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