Horse Racing Speed Ratings Explained: How Topspeed and Speed Figures Work

Speed ratings provide a different way to judge horse racing form.

Instead of asking only where did the horse finish?, a speed figure asks:

How fast was the performance?

That distinction matters.

A horse can win a slowly run race without producing an exceptional overall time. Another horse can finish third in stronger company while recording a much better speed figure.

Speed ratings attempt to convert race times into figures that allow performances to be compared more meaningfully.

One of the best-known examples in British racing is the Racing Post Topspeed rating, commonly displayed as TS on racecards.

British Racecourses also identifies today’s highest Topspeed-rated horses, allowing you to see runners that stand out according to this measure.

Speed ratings should not be treated as a prediction of which horse will win. They work best alongside horse racing form, Official Ratings, race class, pace, going, course, distance and price.

Today’s Top Speed Horses

Here are all today’s top-speed horses:

What Is a Speed Rating in Horse Racing?

A speed rating is a numerical assessment of the speed or time merit of a horse’s performance.

Raw race times are difficult to compare.

For example:

Horse A

Runs 1 mile in 1 minute 38 seconds.

Horse B

Runs 1 mile in 1 minute 40 seconds.

Horse A appears faster.

But suppose Horse A ran:

• on a fast track
• on firm ground
• around a quick course
• carrying less weight.

Horse B ran:

• on slower ground
• at a different racecourse
• carrying more weight
• in more demanding conditions.

The two-second difference no longer tells us enough.

Speed-rating systems attempt to adjust performances so that they can be compared on a more useful scale.

What Does TS Mean in Horse Racing?

TS usually means Topspeed when you see it on a Racing Post racecard.

Topspeed is a time-based rating.

It measures a horse’s performance against a standard time for the relevant course and distance while making adjustments for factors that affect the recorded time.

This converts the stopwatch performance into a rating that can be compared with other performances.

A higher TS figure indicates a stronger performance according to the Topspeed methodology.

What Are Topspeed Ratings?

Topspeed ratings are Racing Post speed figures.

They use race times as the foundation for assessing the merit of a performance.

The basic idea is:

actual race time

compared with

standard time for that course and distance

with appropriate adjustments.

This matters because every racecourse is different.

Five furlongs at one track cannot automatically be compared with five furlongs somewhere else by looking only at the clock.

Track configuration, surface and conditions can all affect time.

Topspeed attempts to put those performances onto a comparable scale.

What Is a Standard Time in Horse Racing?

A standard time provides a benchmark for how quickly a particular course and distance can be expected to be completed under suitable conditions.

There is not one universal standard time for a mile, six furlongs or two miles.

Different tracks require different standards.

Consider the variety of British racecourses.

Some are:

• flat
• undulating
• uphill
• downhill
• sharp
• galloping
• straight
• turning.

A mile at one racecourse is therefore not necessarily equivalent to a mile at another.

Standard times give analysts a course-and-distance-specific benchmark.

The actual race time can then be compared with that benchmark.

Why Raw Race Times Can Be Misleading

Imagine two six-furlong races.

Race A

Winning time:

1:10.0

Race B

Winning time:

1:12.0

Race A was two seconds quicker.

Does that automatically mean the winner of Race A produced the better performance?

No.

Race A may have been run on fast summer ground.

Race B may have been run on soft ground into a strong headwind.

Without accounting for the different circumstances, comparing the raw times can lead to the wrong conclusion.

This is why serious time analysis requires more than a stopwatch.

How Are Horse Racing Speed Ratings Calculated?

Different organisations and private analysts use different methodologies, so there is no single universal formula for every speed figure.

Most time-based systems contain some variation of the following process.

1. Record the Race Time

Start with the actual time of the race.

2. Compare It With a Standard

The actual time is compared with an expected or standard time for the course and distance.

3. Assess the Track Conditions

The analyst determines how fast or slow the surface was racing.

4. Make Relevant Adjustments

Depending on the system, adjustments can include factors such as:

• going
• weight carried
• age
• course
• distance
• track conditions.

5. Convert the Performance Into a Rating

The adjusted time performance is expressed as a figure.

That number makes comparison much easier than repeatedly working with raw seconds.

What Is a Going Allowance?

The official going description tells you whether the turf is described as conditions such as:

• firm
• good to firm
• good
• good to soft
• soft
• heavy.

But the same official going description does not necessarily produce identical times at every meeting.

Time analysts can therefore calculate a going allowance based on how fast or slow the track appears to have ridden relative to expected standards.

This adjustment is crucial.

Without it, horses running on slow surfaces would routinely appear inferior to horses racing on fast ground simply because their final times were slower.

Our horse racing going guide explains how ground conditions affect races in more detail.

Speed Ratings Are About Performance, Not Just Ability

This distinction is important.

A speed figure usually tells you something about a particular performance.

It does not necessarily tell you the maximum ability of the horse.

Imagine a horse capable of producing a speed figure around 100.

It enters a tactical four-runner race.

The field crawls through the opening stages before sprinting late.

The horse wins comfortably but records a speed figure of only 78.

Has the horse suddenly become much worse?

Not necessarily.

The way the race was run prevented it from producing a fast overall time.

This is one of the major limitations of relying on final-time speed figures alone.

Speed Ratings vs Sectional Times

Speed ratings and sectional times are related, but they answer different questions.

A speed rating broadly asks:

How fast was the overall performance?

Sectional times ask:

How was that speed distributed throughout the race?

Consider two horses that complete a mile in exactly the same time.

Horse A races at an even tempo throughout.

Horse B is held up behind a slow pace before producing an exceptional final quarter.

Their final times may be identical.

The sectional data reveals that the performances were achieved differently.

This is why combining speed figures with sectional analysis can be more informative than using either measure alone.

Why Pace Affects Speed Ratings

Overall race time depends heavily on pace.

A strongly run race gives horses the opportunity to record a fast overall time.

A slowly run tactical race may not.

Suppose a field capable of running a mile in around 1:36 spends the first half of the race going very slowly.

Even if the leaders sprint home quickly, the final time may be 1:40.

A final-time speed figure can therefore underestimate horses involved in slowly run races.

Understanding horse racing pace helps you identify these situations.

Using Pace Maps With Speed Ratings

A speed figure tells you what happened previously.

A horse racing pace map can help you anticipate what may happen today.

Suppose the highest speed-rated horse needs a strong gallop to produce its best performances.

Today’s race contains:

• no obvious front-runner
• several hold-up horses
• a small field.

The likely slow pace could make it difficult for the horse to reproduce its best speed figure.

Another runner with a slightly lower rating but a tactical advantage may be better suited.

Topspeed vs Official Rating

Topspeed and the Official Rating, usually displayed as OR, measure different things.

Topspeed

Primarily a time-based assessment of performance.

Official Rating

The British handicapper’s assessment of a horse’s ability for handicapping purposes.

Official Ratings determine the weights horses carry relative to each other in handicap races.

Our guide to racehorse handicap ratings explains the OR system fully.

The two figures can sometimes point in different directions.

That disagreement can be interesting.

Speed Rating vs Official Rating Example

Imagine:

Horse A

Official Rating: 92

Recent speed figures:

91, 93, 92

Horse B

Official Rating: 92

Recent speed figures:

78, 82, 80

The handicapper currently rates both horses equally.

Their recent time performances look very different.

This does not prove Horse A will beat Horse B.

But it gives you a reason to investigate further.

Perhaps Horse B:

• has raced in slowly run contests
• prefers different ground
• has been running over the wrong distance
• is badly out of form.

The numbers generate questions.

Good race analysis attempts to answer them.

Topspeed vs Racing Post Rating

You will frequently see TS and RPR together on racecards.

They should not be confused.

TS

Topspeed.

A rating built primarily around time.

RPR

Racing Post Rating.

A performance rating produced by Racing Post handicappers.

RPR considers the merit of a horse’s performance rather than simply measuring its time performance.

British Racecourses has a separate guide explaining Racing Post Ratings in detail.

Neither figure automatically outranks the other.

They provide different perspectives.

OR vs RPR vs TS

A useful way to remember the three common racecard abbreviations is:

Rating	Meaning	Broad Purpose
OR	Official Rating	Official handicap assessment
RPR	Racing Post Rating	Racing Post assessment of performance
TS	Topspeed	Time-based performance rating

You should not expect the three figures to be identical.

Differences between them can actually make the race more interesting to analyse.

Why Speed Figures Can Reveal Better Form Than Finishing Position

Consider two horses.

Horse A

Recent form:

1st

Speed rating:

73

Horse B

Recent form:

4th

Speed rating:

91

Looking only at finishing positions suggests Horse A produced the better performance.

The speed figures suggest Horse B ran considerably faster relative to the relevant standards.

Perhaps Horse B contested a stronger race.

Perhaps Horse A won a slowly run weak contest.

This is why reading horse racing form requires more than following the sequence of finishing positions.

Speed Ratings and Race Class

Race class adds another important layer.

A horse can record a high speed figure while competing in lower-grade company.

That may suggest it is capable of stepping into a stronger race.

Conversely, a horse dropping in class may possess historical speed figures well above those typically achieved by today’s opposition.

Use speed figures alongside horse racing classes rather than treating the two separately.

A strong time performance in a lower class can signal progression.

A weak time performance in a higher class can signal vulnerability.

Context decides which interpretation makes sense.

Speed Ratings and Horses Dropping in Class

Class droppers are particularly interesting when their speed figures support the move.

Suppose a horse has been competing in Class 2 races and drops into Class 4.

Its recent finishing positions are:

7th, 5th, 6th

Those numbers look unimpressive.

But suppose its speed ratings are:

96, 94, 95

and most of today’s rivals regularly produce figures around:

80 to 88.

The class drop now deserves closer attention.

British Racecourses lists horses dropped in class today, which can be combined with speed analysis to identify runners worth investigating.

Career-Best Speed Rating vs Recent Speed Rating

One of the biggest mistakes with ratings is focusing only on a horse’s highest historical number.

Consider:

Horse A

Career best:

104

Last five:

82, 84, 80, 83, 79

Horse B

Career best:

98

Last five:

93, 95, 94, 97, 96

Horse A has the higher maximum.

Horse B is producing much stronger recent figures.

Unless there is a compelling reason to expect Horse A to return to its old level, Horse B’s profile may be more relevant.

Consistency Matters

A sequence of speed ratings can often tell you more than one isolated figure.

Look for patterns.

For example:

72 → 77 → 82 → 89

may indicate improvement.

Meanwhile:

101 → 84 → 79 → 76

could indicate decline, unsuitable recent conditions or an anomalous career-best performance.

Numbers become more useful when viewed as a sequence.

Speed Ratings and Improving Horses

Speed figures can be particularly useful for spotting improvement.

A lightly raced horse may finish:

3rd → 2nd → 1st

while its speed figures move:

65 → 78 → 91.

The finishing positions show improvement.

The ratings help quantify the scale of that progression.

If today’s opposition usually records figures around the mid-80s, the horse’s latest performance becomes particularly relevant.

Improving horses are still capable of producing much higher figures, so avoid treating the latest rating as a fixed ceiling.

Speed Ratings and Older Horses

The opposite can happen with older or exposed runners.

A horse may have recorded a speed figure of 105 two years ago.

Today its recent figures are:

88, 86, 84, 81.

The historical figure demonstrates what the horse once achieved.

It does not prove the horse remains capable of that performance.

Recency matters.

Speed Ratings and Course Form

Different tracks present different challenges.

A horse may be capable of recording strong figures at one type of course while repeatedly underperforming elsewhere.

Consider:

• sharp vs galloping tracks
• flat vs undulating tracks
• left-handed vs right-handed courses
• straight vs turning tracks.

This is one reason British Racecourses maintains detailed UK racecourse guides.

Combine speed figures with course suitability rather than assuming speed is completely transferable.

Speed Ratings and Course-and-Distance Form

Previous course-and-distance form can strengthen a speed-rating argument.

Suppose a horse’s best three speed figures all came:

• at today’s course
• over today’s distance.

That pattern is potentially significant.

Our course and distance form guide explains why C, D and CD markers need more analysis than simply noticing them on a racecard.

The quality and speed of those previous performances matter.

Speed Ratings and Distance

A horse’s speed figure can change considerably across different distances.

A sprinter might produce its best numbers over five furlongs but struggle to maintain the same performance over six.

A middle-distance horse may need ten or twelve furlongs before its stamina becomes an advantage.

When comparing speed figures, ask:

Was the rating achieved over a relevant distance?

A high figure over an unsuitable trip today may have limited predictive value.

Speed Ratings and Going

Going can have a major effect on both times and individual horses.

The rating methodology may adjust for the overall speed of the surface, but you still need to consider whether the individual horse handles the conditions.

Suppose a horse’s best figures are:

Good: 98

Good to firm: 101

Firm: 100

But on soft:

78, 80, 76

If today’s ground is soft, its overall career-best figure of 101 may be misleading.

Look at ratings achieved under comparable conditions.

All-Weather Speed Ratings

Speed ratings can be useful in all-weather racing because races take place on artificial surfaces with substantial historical timing data.

But the British all-weather tracks should not be treated as identical.

Differences include:

• surface
• track configuration
• straight length
• bends
• kickback
• pace patterns.

A strong figure at Southwell does not automatically guarantee the same performance at Lingfield, Newcastle, Chelmsford, Wolverhampton or Kempton.

Course context still matters.

Flat vs Jump Speed Ratings

Speed figures can be used in both Flat and National Hunt racing, but the nature of the races differs.

Jump racing introduces additional variables including:

• hurdles
• fences
• jumping efficiency
• obstacles being omitted
• longer distances
• more variable ground
• tactical pace.

A horse can lose significant time through poor jumping even when possessing considerable underlying ability.

That performance still matters, but you need to understand why the time figure was produced.

Jumping Efficiency and Time

Two chasers can possess similar ability on paper but differ substantially in how efficiently they jump.

Horse A:

• attacks fences
• lands running
• maintains momentum.

Horse B:

• gets close to fences
• jumps high
• loses ground on landing.

Over a full race, those small differences accumulate.

The stopwatch captures the eventual effect, but watching the race explains the cause.

This is another example of why ratings and visual analysis should work together.

When a Low Speed Rating Can Be Misleading

A low figure does not always mean a poor performance.

Possible explanations include:

Slow Early Pace

The field never had the opportunity to record a strong final time.

Strong Headwind

Wind can influence times significantly.

Unsuitable Ground

The horse may have struggled on the surface.

Traffic Problems

A runner may have been repeatedly checked or blocked.

Wide Trip

Covering extra ground can reduce efficiency.

Jumping Errors

In National Hunt racing, mistakes cost time.

Race Was Already Won

A horse may not have been fully extended late.

The figure provides evidence.

Race analysis explains it.

When a High Speed Rating Can Be Misleading

High figures also require scrutiny.

Possible reasons include:

• exceptionally fast track conditions
• perfect pace setup
• favourable race position
• one anomalous performance
• a horse being unable to reproduce the effort
• today’s conditions being completely different.

Never assume one big number must be repeated.

The Importance of Repeated Speed Figures

Repeated high figures are generally more convincing than a single isolated performance.

Consider:

Horse A

101, 82, 84, 80, 83

Horse B

96, 94, 97, 95, 96

Horse A owns the highest individual figure.

Horse B repeatedly performs near the same strong level.

Depending on today’s circumstances, Horse B may provide the more dependable evidence.

Speed Figures and Race Replays

Numbers tell you what happened.

Watching the race can help explain why.

If a horse records an unexpectedly poor figure, look for:

• slow pace
• trouble in running
• poor start
• wide position
• unsuitable tactical setup
• jumping mistakes
• jockey easing late.

If it records an unexpectedly strong figure, look for whether the horse:

• travelled comfortably
• received a perfect trip
• was pushed hard throughout
• had more left at the finish.

Combining quantitative and visual analysis is much stronger than relying exclusively on either.

How to Use Speed Ratings When Analysing a Race

A practical process works better than simply backing the highest number.

Step 1: Identify Today’s Leading Figures

Find the horses with the strongest relevant speed ratings.

Step 2: Check Recency

When were those figures achieved?

Last week?

Three months ago?

Two years ago?

Step 3: Check Distance

Were the ratings recorded over today’s trip or a comparable distance?

Step 4: Check Going

Were the conditions similar?

Step 5: Check Course

Does the horse handle today’s track characteristics?

Step 6: Check Race Class

Is it moving into stronger or weaker company?

Step 7: Assess Pace

Will today’s likely race shape allow the horse to reproduce its figure?

Step 8: Compare With Official Ratings

Do the speed figures suggest the horse may be performing above or below its handicap mark?

Step 9: Examine the Recent Trend

Is the horse improving, declining or consistent?

Step 10: Consider the Price

Has the market already recognised everything you’ve found?

This is much more useful than:

highest TS = bet.

Worked Speed Rating Example

Imagine a Class 4 handicap with three leading contenders.

Horse A

OR: 82

Best TS: 96

Recent TS:

75, 77, 76

Horse B

OR: 81

Best TS: 91

Recent TS:

88, 90, 91

Horse C

OR: 80

Best TS: 89

Recent TS:

86, 88, 89

Looking only at career-best Topspeed:

Horse A wins easily.

But its best performance is old.

Horse B is producing consistently strong recent figures.

Horse C is improving with every start.

Now suppose:

• Horse B’s figures came over today’s course and distance
• Horse C is lightly raced and improving
• Horse A’s 96 came two seasons ago on different ground.

The race becomes much more complicated than the headline numbers suggest.

That is exactly how ratings should be used.

They structure the analysis rather than finish it.

Can Speed Ratings Find Horses Ahead of the Handicapper?

Sometimes.

Suppose a horse has an Official Rating of 76 but produces time figures suggesting it is already capable of performing to a substantially higher level.

If the handicapper has not yet fully reacted, the horse could be better than its mark.

This connects directly with the concept of being ahead of the handicapper.

However, speed figures and Official Ratings use different methodologies.

A numerical gap is a clue, not proof.

Speed Ratings and Value Betting

A speed rating only becomes useful for betting when considered relative to price.

Suppose your analysis strongly favours Horse A.

At:

5/1

you might consider the price attractive.

At:

4/6

you might reach a completely different conclusion.

The horse’s ability has not changed.

The value has.

This is why speed ratings fit naturally into pricing a horse race and finding value bets.

The aim is not merely to identify the horse most likely to win.

It is to judge whether the available odds accurately reflect its chance.

Should You Back the Top Topspeed Horse?

No automatic betting rule should be built around being top-rated on one metric.

The highest Topspeed horse may:

• be out of form
• dislike today’s going
• face an unsuitable pace
• be poorly drawn
• be stepping up significantly in class
• be racing over the wrong distance
• be too short in the market.

Equally, the leading TS horse may be an excellent candidate when the rest of the evidence supports it.

Treat the rating as one piece of the puzzle.

Common Speed Rating Mistakes

Automatically Backing the Highest Figure

A rating is not a guarantee.

Using Career Best Instead of Current Ability

Old figures can exaggerate what a horse is capable of today.

Ignoring Race Pace

Slowly run races can produce misleading overall times.

Ignoring Sectionals

Final time does not tell you how the performance was achieved.

Ignoring Distance

A horse’s best figure may have come over a completely different trip.

Ignoring Going

Surface preference still matters.

Comparing Raw Times Across Tracks

Different courses require different benchmarks.

Treating TS, RPR and OR as the Same Thing

They measure different aspects of performance and ability.

Ignoring Race Class

A strong figure in weaker company still needs context.

Ignoring Price

Even the best-rated horse can be poor value.

Speed Rating Checklist

Before using a speed figure, ask:

The figure

• What rating system produced it?
• Is it a career best or recent figure?
• Is it an isolated number or repeatedly achieved?

The race

• What distance produced it?
• At which course?
• On what going?
• At what class?
• How was the race run?

The horse

• Is it improving?
• Is it declining?
• Is it exposed or lightly raced?
• Does it handle today’s conditions?

Today’s race

• Is the distance suitable?
• Does the going suit?
• Does the course suit?
• What does the pace map suggest?
• Is it moving up or down in class?
• How does its rating compare with its rivals?

The market

• Does the price offer value?

If you cannot answer those questions, the speed figure alone probably isn’t enough.

Speed Ratings as Part of Professional Race Analysis

The strongest approach combines different types of evidence.

A complete horse race analysis might include:

• recent form
• race class
• Official Ratings
• RPR
• Topspeed
• sectionals
• course form
• distance form
• going
• draw
• pace
• trainer form
• jockey
• market price.

No single factor has to dominate every race.

Sometimes speed ratings reveal the key piece of evidence.

Sometimes the pace map matters more.

Sometimes course form is decisive to your assessment.

The skill lies in understanding how the evidence fits together.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a speed rating in horse racing?

A speed rating is a numerical assessment of the time merit of a horse’s performance. It attempts to make race times more comparable by accounting for relevant factors rather than relying on raw finishing times alone.

What does TS mean on a horse racing racecard?

TS commonly means Topspeed on Racing Post racecards. Topspeed is Racing Post’s time-based performance rating.

What is a Topspeed rating?

A Topspeed rating measures a horse’s performance using its race time compared with a standard for the course and distance, with relevant adjustments.

Is a higher Topspeed rating better?

A higher figure represents a stronger time performance according to the Topspeed methodology. That does not mean the horse with the highest number will automatically win its next race.

What is a standard time in horse racing?

A standard time is a benchmark for a particular course and distance. Analysts compare actual race times with these standards when assessing the time merit of performances.

Why can’t I just compare race times?

Different racecourses, distances, surfaces, ground conditions, weights and race shapes affect times. A faster raw time does not necessarily represent a better performance.

What is the difference between TS and OR?

TS is a time-based Topspeed performance rating. OR is the horse’s Official Rating used by the handicapper.

What is the difference between TS and RPR?

TS is primarily time-based. RPR is a Racing Post performance rating compiled by its handicappers. The two figures therefore measure performance differently.

What do OR, RPR and TS mean?

OR means Official Rating.

RPR means Racing Post Rating.

TS means Topspeed.

They should not be treated as interchangeable figures.

Are speed ratings the same as speed figures?

The terms are often used broadly to describe numerical assessments of time-based performance. Individual providers use their own methods and terminology.

Are speed ratings accurate?

They can provide useful evidence, but no rating perfectly captures every aspect of a horse race. Pace, trouble in running, course, going, distance and other factors can affect how informative a figure is.

Do speed ratings work on the Flat?

Yes. Time-based ratings are widely used in Flat racing.

Do speed ratings work over jumps?

Yes, but jumping introduces additional variables. Errors at hurdles or fences can significantly affect a horse’s overall time.

Do speed ratings work on all-weather racing?

Yes. All-weather racing provides substantial timing data, although different tracks and surfaces still need to be considered separately.

Can a horse win with a low speed rating?

Yes. A horse may improve, encounter more suitable conditions or benefit from the way today’s race develops.

Why can a horse win and receive a low speed figure?

The race may have been slowly run, meaning the horse never needed to produce a fast overall time.

Can a losing horse record a good speed figure?

Yes. A horse can run a fast race while finishing behind even stronger horses.

Should I back the highest Topspeed-rated horse?

Not automatically. Check the horse’s recent form, distance, going, course, race class, pace setup, handicap mark and price before making a betting decision.

Are recent speed ratings better than career-best ratings?

Recent figures are often more relevant to current ability, although historical ratings can show what a horse has previously been capable of producing.

How do speed ratings help find value?

They can identify performances that look stronger or weaker than the basic finishing position suggests. Whether that creates value depends on how the betting market has priced the horse.

Summary of Top Speed Ratings

Speed ratings attempt to measure the time merit of horse racing performances.

They help answer a different question from traditional form figures.

Instead of simply asking:

Where did the horse finish?

they ask:

How fast was the performance relative to an appropriate benchmark?

Racing Post’s Topspeed, displayed as TS, is one of the best-known examples in British racing.

Understanding speed figures requires more than selecting the highest number.

You need to consider:

recency + course + distance + going + class + pace + sectionals + Official Rating + current form + price.

The distinction between the main racecard ratings is also important:

OR = Official Rating

RPR = Racing Post Rating

TS = Topspeed

Each tells you something different.

Speed ratings are most powerful when they reveal information that ordinary finishing positions hide.

A horse finishing fourth can produce a stronger time performance than a horse winning elsewhere.

A previous winner can record a weak figure because its race was slowly run.

A class dropper can become particularly interesting when its recent speed figures are consistently stronger than those of today’s rivals.

Use speed ratings to add context to the form book, not replace it.

The stopwatch provides valuable evidence.

Understanding why the horse recorded that time is what turns the number into useful race analysis.