Often though the fact is, some horses just can't physically run as quickly as others through mud due to factors such as hoof size. The bigger the hoof the less it will sink into the mud. Unless you are able to get a look at a horses hoof in the paddock before the race then this is not something you can assess. The most reliable way to find out is on past performances in similar conditions. If they have not run in very wet conditions before then selecting a horse presents you with a serious unknown factor. For this reason some gamblers will not bet on meetings when the ground is very soft as there is often not enough relevant information available to them.

If however there is a stand out horse who is reaching peak form and the race and the track conditions are not too severe then in most cases it's still a good bet. If on the other hand the same horse has run on heavy ground before and been successful then this only enhances the horses chances of winning the race. So unusual track conditions can offer the well informed gambler some of the best bets around.