Sandown Lakeside Racing Track

Situated around 25km from Melbourne’s CBD, Sandown Racecourse is a leading venue for both thoroughbred and steeple racing.

Sandown is distinctive in that it features two separate circuits. Following a major redevelopment in 2001, the Hillside and Lakeside tracks were created. The venue is highly regarded by racing purists due to its long straights and smooth, flowing turns. Because of these extended runs, inside barriers generally carry less advantage than at many other racecourses. The Lakeside track makes use of the inner home turn and the full 45-metre width of the home straight.

The home straight measures 407 metres and rises noticeably toward the finish, favouring horses that retain stamina late in the race.

Overall, the Sandown Lakeside circuit has a total circumference of 1,857 metres.

Barriers:

1000m – Races start from a chute off the course proper, with a long 600m straight before runners reach the home turn. Barrier position has little influence.

1200m – Beginning on the course proper along the back straight, runners travel around 400m before negotiating the sweeping bend into the home straight. Barriers play a greater role here than at shorter sprint distances.

1300m – Similar to the 1200m start, but with an additional 100m of straight running before the turn.

1400m – Races commence at the end of the first turn, giving runners a long 600m straight before reaching the next bend. Inside barriers lose most of their advantage.

1500m – Starting from a chute that feeds into the back straight, runners have approximately 700m before the final turn, effectively neutralising any benefit of an inside draw.

1600m – Follows the same pattern as the 1500m, but with an even longer 800m run to the turn. Barrier position makes little to no difference.

2000m – Races begin on the course proper in the home straight. With only around 300m to the first turn and the longer overall distance, inside barriers hold minimal advantage.

2400m – Starting from a chute at the top of the home straight, runners face a lengthy 700m run before the first turn, leaving inside barriers with only a slight benefit.