Horse Racing

Horse racing is a sport that dates back to ancient Egypt and Babylon.  It also has roots in the ancient Greece where it was included in Greek Olympics.  In the Roman Empire, horse racing was both a popular sport and a thriving industry.  It was also the sport of choice among the royalty and aristocrats of British Society which in part has been the reason that it has been called the “Sport of Kings”.

There are 3 major categories of horse racing: Flat Race, Steeplechase Race, and Harness Race.  A flat race is run by thoroughbred horses over a level or flat track covering a predetermined distance.  This type of race is a competition of speed and stamina of the horse and of skill for the riding jockey.  On the other hand, a steeplechase race is run on a course that has many obstacles that the horse and the jockey must traverse with speed and precision.  In Ireland and in Great Britain, the official term now used to denote steeplechase horse racing is National Hunt Racing.  Harness racing meanwhile requires the horses to race using a specific trot, gait, or pace.  Additionally, they are also required to pull a cart with two wheels where the jockey will be positioned.  Some areas in Europe though have adopted a type of harness racing where the jockey uses a saddle to ride the horse thereby dismissing the use of the two wheeled cart.

Under these 3 major types of racing are many other types of racing.  This variety of races has led to the breeding of different types of horse breeds that are raised with the type of race it is to excel in being the most significant factor.  For flat races, the most capable breeds are the thoroughbred, the Arabian, the Quarter Horse, the Appaloosa, and the Paint.  For steeplechase races, thoroughbred and AQPS horses are the preferred breeds.  For harness races, the standard bred horse is the most common breed that it used.  However, the Russian Trotter and Finnhorse are also common choices in harness races that are held in Europe.

A fourth major type of horse racing was started in 1955 in the state of California in the United States of America.  This is called endurance racing.  An endurance race usually covers a distance of 80 or 160 kilometers although this usually depends on the country where the race is being held.  There are also “short” endurance races which are called limited distance races.   

These races are usually used by new riders and new or young horses as training ground for eventual entry into the full distance endurance races.  On the other hand, extra long endurance races are also held in some parts of the world.  These races usually go over the 160 km distance and may last for several days.  While any breed of horse may be entered into an endurance race, the Arabian breed is preferred by most professional riders because of its natural high endurance characteristics and its above average stamina. Endurance horse racing is similar to the marathon that is run by humans in that most of the competitors regard finishing the race with the horse in good condition already a “win”.