Horse Competitions
Horse Racing

See Also: Royal Ascot • Gold Cup • Cheltenham • Horse Breeds

Horse Racing
Horse racing has a long and rich history which dates back long before the chariot racing racing in Ancient Greece and due to its association with royalty and the aristocracy it is often still referred to as "The Sport Of Kings".

Today there are many forms of horse racing that vary considerably with different types of horses used, distance covered and race type including flat, steeplechase and harness racing. Each race type has horse breeds that have been carefully bred with performance in mind and are therefore naturally suited for to the sport for example for harness racing the Standardbred and for flat racing the Thoroughbred.

Types of Horse Racing

Thoroughbred racing is where Thoroughbred horses are raced on the flat over a set distance.
Harness racing this is where a horse pulls a two wheeled trap called sulkies and it can be either a trotter or a pacer depending on which gait it uses.
Quarter horse racing is the racing of the quarter horse breed over a set distance.
Steeplechasing is the racing of Thoroughbred horses over steeplechase fences and covering a set distance.
Arab racing is the racing of the Arab breed over a set distance.

The Track
Race tracks vary according to the type of race and racetrack in question with grass turf the most common in the United Kingdom for both flat and steeplechase races such as those found at Ascot Racecourse and Cheltenham with the distances to be raced varying according to the type of race which is usually up to 1.5 miles.

In the United states for example dirt track surfaces are often used such as those found at Belmont Park in New York which is the home of the Belmont Stakes where the prestigious final leg of the Triple Crown is held. At Pimlico Race Course, in Baltimore, home to the legendary home to the Preakness Stakes there is both a dirt oval track of a mile and a seven furlong oval turf track.

Prestigious Racing Events
In Great Britain the oldest of the Classic races is the St Leger which was first raced in 1776 in Doncaster and was re-named after Lt. Gen Anthony St Leger, the St Leger is run over a distance of 1mile, 6 furlongs and 127 yards and is open to colts and fillies who are 3 years of age.

The Triple Crown Of Horse Racing
This is a most prestigious event that is well known for its immense challenge of having to win at all three race meetings in the space of 5 weeks in order to succeed, this is an achievement which is not at all easy to do and great respect must be given to the horse, jockey and trainer who accomplishes it.

There are three main races which combine to form the US Triple Crown Of Thoroughbred Racing, they are the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont stakes, to win all three is extremely rare but it does happen. The first horse to achieve this was called Sir Barton and was ridden by Johnny Loftus in 1919.
US Harness Racing Pacers must win the Cane Pace, Messenger Stakes and the Little Brown Jug to win their Triple Crown Of Racing Pacers. The first horse to achieve this was called Adios Butler in 1959.
US Harness Racing Trotters must win at Hambletonian, Yonkers Trot and the Kentucky Futurity to win their Triple Crown of Racing Trotters. A horse called Scott Frost first won the Triple Crown in 1955.
UK Horse Racing the Triple Crown is achieved by winning the Two Thousand Guineas Stakes, The Epsom Derby and the St Ledger Stakes. The first horse to achieve this was called West Australian and was ridden by Frank Butler in 1853.
In Canada Thoroughbred horses must win the Queens Plate, The Prince of Wales Stakes and the Breeders Stakes to claim their Triple Crown. The first horse to achieve this was called New Providence in 1959.

Horse Competitions Horse Racing

Horse Competitions
Horse Racing