Horse racing is an exciting type of competition with an enthusiastic fan base. Whether you already love to watch horse racing, are just interested in knowing more about the sport, or want to get started with placing wagers, here are some lesser-known facts about this fast-paced sport.
There Are Multiple Kinds of Horse Racing
Many people associate horse racing with the types of races that we see on TV: two or more horses running on a course or track. This type of racing is called flat racing and is the most popular form of racing around the world. There are many other types of horse racing, however, including harness, endurance, jump racing and saddle trotting.
Harness racing involves a rider being pulled on a cart known as a “sulky.” In endurance racing, horses race distances ranging from 10 miles to 100 miles. Jump racing takes place on a course with obstacles that the horses need to jump over or maneuver around successfully to complete the race. Saddle trotting is similar to flat racing, except that the horses are riding with a saddle fitted to their backs. Further information about the different types of racing can be found wherever you get your Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing news.
There Are Different Breeds of Horses Used in Racing
Horse racing doesn’t use just any type of horse. Many races require that the entrants are of a certain breed. Pure bred horses must have a father and mother of the same breed. There are four breeds of horse that are commonly used in horse racing. These are thoroughbred, standardbred, Arabian and quarter horse. Thoroughbred horses are used mainly in flat racing.
Standardbred horses are used for harness racing and can also be talented at jumping. Arabian horses were bred specifically for endurance racing and remain a popular choice for this sport to this day. They can also be used in flat racing. Quarter horses are good sprinters and their races usually involve a track of a quarter mile, thus giving them their name.
There Are Many Famous Tracks That Hold Horse Races
North American is filled with famous race tracks, as well as lesser-known tracks, that host horse races. Some of the most famous are Saratoga Race Course, Belmont Park, Pimlico Park and Churchill Downs. Churchill Downs is the site of the famous Kentucky Derby, which is the first race that a horse must win in its bid to complete the coveted “Triple Crown” championship. The winner of the Triple Crown must complete the Derby, the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Park and the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park.
Read Also: Types of Horse Insurance To Consider
Betting on Horse Racing is Popular and Lucrative
Placing wagers on horse racing is a popular and exciting activity that can be quite lucrative if you know how to do it correctly. For a beginner, a “straight bet” is the best option, as it requires only basic knowledge of horse racing. For the more experienced horse race enthusiast, “exotic bets” can have a bigger payout. The three straight bets are “win,” “place” and “show.” Win is the easiest to understand.
In this bet, your chosen horse much finish first. In the place wager, your selection must finish either first or second. In the show bet, the selection must finish in first, second or third place. Exotic bets include “exactas,” “trifectas” and “superfectas.” In each of these wagers, the person placing the bet must choose, respectively, the first two, three or four horses to finish, in exact order.
While there can seem like there are a lot of moving parts and pieces to horse racing, it is really a fairly simple sport to understand. Hopefully, these facts deepen your enjoyment of racing and your ability to participate in betting.