About the book
Racing Times Australia gives casual punters a clear path through the long‑running debate between traditional class-and-weights analysis and modern speed ratings. It shows that both methods work best together, not in opposition.
The book blends familiar Australian form analysis with contemporary time‑based approaches and introduces the GFTT — a full database of expected par times from 800m to 3200m, measured in ten‑metre increments and calibrated to track condition.
Because horses fatigue differently on Heavy versus firmer surfaces, the weight‑to‑beaten‑margin scale should shift with distance and with track deterioration. Racing Times Australia updates this scale to reflect real surface impact and gives punters a practical tool for comparing varied formlines.
Both styles are intertwined by one major concept: Understanding Velocity — the bridge that connects time and traditional handicapping.
Printed in Australia for fast delivery, using Amazon Australia’s premium colour format to provide a larger, easy‑to‑read layout.
Table of Contents
Disclaimer … iii
Preface … iv
Introduction … v
How to Use This Book … vi
Chapter 1 — Budget and Staking … 1
Chapter 2 — Formguides and System Building … 11
Chapter 3 — Video Analysis … 19
Chapter 4 — Benchmark Programming & Handicapping … 27
Chapter 5 — Pace Maps … 35
Chapter 6 — Speed Ratings vs Weights & Class Analysis … 41
Chapter 7 — Generic Flat Turf Time … 53
Chapter 8 — Race Preview and Review … 65
Chapter 9 — Tissue Markets … 77
Chapter 10 — Past – Present – Future … 89
Chapter 11 — Racing Gear Reference Guide … 95
Chapter 12 — Picargo … 105
Conclusion … 109
About the Author … 111
Good 3 GFTT … 112
Good 4 GFTT … 118
Soft 5 GFTT … 124
Soft 6 GFTT … 130
Soft 7 GFTT … 136
Heavy 8 GFTT … 142
Heavy 9 GFTT … 148
Heavy 10 GFTT … 154
Author Biography
I’ve followed Australian racing for decades — long enough to see trends come and go, and long enough to know when something in the industry suddenly shifts without explanation.
Over the past few years, I kept hearing a new vernacular creep into mainstream racing commentary: “lengths to benchmark,” “they ran slower than average,” “faster than standard.”
It seemed to appear out of nowhere. No context. No explanation. No guidance for everyday punters. Just a new language that analysts started using as if everyone already understood it.
As a long‑time racing fan and form analyst, I found myself thinking: Where did this come from? What does it actually mean? And why is nobody explaining it? For younger punters, this “new speak” felt exclusive — a message that said, don’t bother learning times, just listen to us tell you how the race compared to average.
For older punters like myself, it was alienating. Many switched off entirely, wondering what on earth the analysts were talking about and where they got this jargon.
The truth is simple: par, standard, or average times don’t exist in a racebook. They come from paid subscription databases, each with their own methods, their own benchmarks, and their own interpretations. Yet the media began treating these numbers as universal truths.
That frustration — and the lack of clear, inclusive explanation — is exactly why Racing Times Australia needed to be written. I wanted to build something that everyday punters could actually use at home. Something that demystified the jargon. Something that made time analysis accessible rather than exclusive.
That’s how the Generic Flat Turf Time (GFTT) database came into existence: a practical, transparent benchmark tool designed for the wider racing community, not just insiders. And here’s the important part: Despite my early scepticism around time analysis, I’ve come to appreciate its value.
But I don’t advocate for modern speed ratings over traditional weights and class. I believe — strongly — that both methods are at their sharpest when they work together.
My goal has always been the same: To help punters understand racing in a way that feels clear, practical, and inclusive. To bridge the gap between old-school analysis and modern metrics. And to make sure no one feels left out of the conversation.
That’s the spirit behind Racing Times Australia — and the same spirit I bring to every post, every discussion, and every piece of analysis I share.
Author, Craig Lewis
Contact
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