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Financial interests from gambling on horse races supports this major publicly attended sport, in which there are several meetings on most days of the year.
Horse Racing is the general name given to turf racing (covered in this section)on flat land and over jumps. Harness racing is another form of Horse Racing, where horses either trot or canter pulling a two-wheeled cart.
Horse (turf) Racing is by far the fastest of the equestrian sports. Jockeys mounted on horses gallop along a specified course to beat competitors to a finish line. After initially parading in front of spectators, horses are loaded and lined up in starting gates in an order determined by a draw.
The starting gates open simultaneously so that all horses start together. Horses are ranked dependent upon their previous form and can given a weight handicap, graduated up to a maximum of 5 kilos, in order to improve the chances of winning for the less-favoured horses.
Where horses are tightly bunched when they cross the finishing line, a photograph is taken to provide evidence of the result. Gambling monies are either laid on the winner or for a horse to finish either 2nd or 3rd (or 4th in major races where there are a high number of horses). In flat racing, the horses are usually between 3 and 4 years old. Horses in hurdle or steeplechase racing normally have a wider age range.
Equipment
Riding styles and fashions, with associated equipment and attire, have changed through the history of the sport. The fastest riding style, invented by an American jockey, Ted Sloan, is considered to be short reins and stirrups with jockey’s body bent forward on the horse’s neck. Jockeys wear silks in the horse owner’s colours, a helmet and goggles for protection and riding boots. The horse has a noseband limiting their ability to see the ground and therefore avoiding them jumping over shadows mistaken for obstacles. The saddle is placed over a saddle cloth which protects the horse from friction due to rider movement.
History
The Olympic Games in ancient Greece had both chariot races and mounted races. The first race course was built in Newmarket, England, in the early 17th century. Since it’s formation in 1750, the jockey club has established rules for the major prestigious races around the world - including the Epsom Derby, Ascot Gold Cup, Arc de Triumphe in Paris and the Kentucky Derby in USA. Lester Piggott was the most famous jockey to date in England, winning the national championship and Derby a total of 11 and 9 times respectively.
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