See Also

Horse racing

Horse racing is an equestrian Equestrianism

Equestrianism refers to the skill of riding or driving horse [i]s. ... 

 sport which has been practiced over the centuries; the chariot races Chariot racing

Chariot racing was one of the most popular ancient Greek [i] and Roman [i] sport [i] ... 

 of Roman times Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization [i] that grew out of the city-state [i] of Rome [i], founded in the Italian Peninsula [i] ... 

 are an early example, as is the contest of the steeds of the god Odin Odin

Odin is considered the chief god [i] in Norse mythology [i] and Norse paganism [i], like the Anglo-Saxon [i] ... 

 and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology Norse mythology

Norse or Scandinavian mythology comprises the pre-Christian [i] religion [i], beliefs ... 

. It is often inextricably associated with gambling Gambling

Gambling has had many different meanings depending on the cultural and historical context in which it is... 

. The common nickname for horse racing is The Sport of Kings.

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Timeline

1938   Horse Racing: Seabiscuit Seabiscuit

Seabiscuit was a champion thoroughbred [i] race horse [i] in the United States [i]. ... 

 defeats War Admiral in their famous match race by 4 lengths.



Encyclopedia

This article is about the sport. For other uses, see horserace  or horse race .



Horse racing is an equestrian Equestrianism

Equestrianism refers to the skill of riding or driving horse [i]s. ... 

 sport which has been practiced over the centuries; the chariot races Chariot racing

Chariot racing was one of the most popular ancient Greek [i] and Roman [i] sport [i] ... 

 of Roman times Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization [i] that grew out of the city-state [i] of Rome [i], founded in the Italian Peninsula [i] ... 

 are an early example, as is the contest of the steeds of the god Odin Odin

Odin is considered the chief god [i] in Norse mythology [i] and Norse paganism [i], like the Anglo-Saxon [i] ... 

 and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology Norse mythology

Norse or Scandinavian mythology comprises the pre-Christian [i] religion [i], beliefs ... 

. It is often inextricably associated with gambling Gambling

Gambling has had many different meanings depending on the cultural and historical context in which it is... 

. The common nickname for horse racing is The Sport of Kings.

Forms of horse racing

For more details on this topic, see Harness racing Harness racing

Harness racing is a form of horse-racing [i] in which the horses race in a specified gait.... 

 and Thoroughbred horse racing.



One of the principal forms of horse racing, which is popular in many parts of the world, is thoroughbred racing. Harness racing Harness racing

Harness racing is a form of horse-racing [i] in which the horses race in a specified gait.... 

 is also popular in the eastern United States, Canada and parts of Europe. Quarter horse American Quarter Horse

The American Quarter Horse is a breed [i] of horse [i] originally bred for sprinting short ... 

 and Arabian racing are also popular in the western United States and Florida Florida

Florida is a U.S. state [i] located in the southeastern [i] United States [i] ... 

.

The breeding, training and racing of horse Horse

The horse is a large odd-toed ungulate [i] mammal [i], one of ten modern species of the genus Equus [i]... 

s in many countries is now a significant economic activity as, to a greater extent, is the gambling industry which is largely supported by it. Exceptional horses can win millions of dollars and make millions more by providing stud services, such as horse breeding Horse breeding

Horse [i] breeding refers to the human-directed process of planned mating of horses. ... 

.

Horse racing in North America



The style of racing, the distances and the type of events varies very much by the country in which the race is occurring, and many countries offer different types of horse races.

In the United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

, races can occur on flat surfaces of either dirt or grass, generally thoroughbred racing; other tracks offer quarter horse American Quarter Horse

The American Quarter Horse is a breed [i] of horse [i] originally bred for sprinting short ... 

 racing and harness racing Harness racing

Harness racing is a form of horse-racing [i] in which the horses race in a specified gait.... 

, or combinations of these three types of racing. Racing with other breeds, such as Arabian horse Arabian horse

The Arabian horse is a breed of horse [i] with a reputation for intelligence, high spirit, and outstandi ... 

 racing, is found on a limited basis. American thoroughbred races are run at a wide variety of distances, most commonly from 4.5 furlong Furlong

A furlong is a measure of distance [i] within Imperial units [i] and U.S. customary units [i], and is eq ... 

s to 1½ miles ; with this in mind, breeders of thoroughbred race horses are able to breed horses to excel at a particular distance .

The high point of US horse racing has traditionally been the Kentucky Derby Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race [i] for three-year-old thoroughbred horse [i] ... 

 which, together with the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes Belmont Stakes

The Belmont Stakes is a prestigious Grade I stakes race [i] held yearly in June at Belmont Park [i] ... 

, form the Triple Crown Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing

The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old thoroughbred [i] horse [i] ... 

 for three-year-olds. However, in recent years the Breeders' Cup races, held at the end of the year, have been challenging the Triple Crown events, held early in the year, as determiners of the three-year-old champion. They also have an important effect on the selection of other annual champions. The corresponding standard-bred event is the Breeders' Crown. There are also a Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers and a Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters.

American betting on horse racing is sanctioned and regulated by state governments, almost always through legalized parimutuel gambling. Thoroughbred horse racing in the United States has its own Hall of Fame for horses, jockeys, and trainers.

The most famous horses from Canada Canada

Canada is the world's second-largest [i] country by total area, occupying most ... 

 are Northern Dancer Northern Dancer

Northern Dancer was a Canadian [i]-bred Thoroughbred [i] racehorse [i] and the most succes ... 

, who after winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness went on to become the most successful Thoroughbred sire ever, and his son Nijinsky II Nijinsky II

The racehorse Nijinsky II was a son of Northern Dancer [i] and Flaming Page [i] and a grandson of Nearco [i] ... 

. In Canada, however, harness racing Harness racing

Harness racing is a form of horse-racing [i] in which the horses race in a specified gait.... 

 is more popular than Thoroughbred racing. Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, home of the Queen's Plate, Canada's premier thoroughbred stakes race, and the North America Cup, Canada's premier standard-bred stakes race, is the only race track in North America which stages Thoroughbred and Standard-bred meetings on the same day. The North America Cup has the largest purse of any Canadian horse race.

Horse racing in Australia


Racing in Australia Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere [i] c ... 

 has enjoyed great success with races such as the world famous Melbourne Cup Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup is Australia [i]'s major annual thoroughbred horse race [i]. ... 

, the so-called race that stops a nation, which has recently attracted many international entries. In Australia Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere [i] c ... 

, the most famous horse was Phar Lap Phar Lap

Phar Lap was also the name of a computer software company [i]
... 

, who raced from 1928-1932 . In 2003-2005 Makybe Diva Makybe Diva

Makybe Diva is a British-bred racehorse [i] that was taken to Australia [i] where she becam ... 

 became the first and only horse to ever win the Melbourne Cup Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup is Australia [i]'s major annual thoroughbred horse race [i]. ... 

 three times. In harness racing Harness racing

Harness racing is a form of horse-racing [i] in which the horses race in a specified gait.... 

, Paleface Adios Paleface Adios

Paleface Adios was one of the immortals of Australia [i]n harness racing [i], competing as a pacer throu ... 

 became a household name during the 1970s, while Cardigan Bay Cardigan Bay

Cardigan Bay is a large inlet of the Irish Sea [i], indenting the west coast of Wales [i] between the Lleyn [i] ... 

, a pacing horse from New Zealand New Zealand

New Zealand is a country in the south-western Pacific Ocean [i] consisting of two large islands and many ... 

, enjoyed great success at the highest levels of American harness racing in the 1960s.

Horse racing in Europe


In the United Kingdom United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country and sovereign state [i] tha ... 

, there are races which involve obstacles called National Hunt racing and those which are unobstructed races over a given distance . The UK has provided many of the sport's greatest ever jockeys, most notably Gordon Richards Gordon Richards

Sir Gordon Richards was an English [i] jockey [i], and is usually considered the world's greates ... 

. See also United Kingdom horse-racing.

In Ireland Ireland

Ireland is the third largest [i] island [i] in Europe [i]. ... 

, noted for its racing history, the Derby-winning thoroughbred Shergar was kidnapped on February 8, 1983. He has never been found. The multiple Gold Cup winner Best Mate also hails from Ireland, while the great Red Rum was bred there, before moving across the Irish Sea Irish Sea

The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland [i] and Great Britain [i]. ... 

 to be trained.

Pedigree


While the attention of horse racing fans and the media is focused almost exclusively on the horse's performance on the racetrack, or for male horses possibly its success as a sire, little publicity is given to brood mares. Such is the case of La Troienne, one of the most important mares of the 20th century to whom many of the greatest thoroughbred champions, and dams of champions, can be traced.

In most horse races, not including steeplechases, the pedigree of the horse is one of the things that allow it to race. In a normal flat race, the horse must have a sire who is a pure thoroughbred and a dam who is also a pure thoroughbred. In a normal harness race, the horses sire and dam must both be pure standardbreds.

A stallion who has won many races will usually be put up to stud when he is retired. This means that the owner of a mare can pay to breed his mare to that stallion. The more successful a stallion has been, the more expensive it is to breed the mare. An owner who is serious about racing will strive for the best, and will usually pay the expensive amount, so an owner who has had a successful colt will probably make more money than an owner with a filly.

Betting


At all official horse races, there is a gambling station, where gamblers can stake money on a horse.

The three most common ways to bet money are: bet to win, bet to place, and bet to show. Bet to win means that you stake money on the horse, and if it comes in first place, the bet is a winner. In bet to place, you are betting on your horse to finish either first or second and 'show' is first, second or third. Since it is much easier to select a horse to finish first, second or third than it is to select a horse just for first, the 'show' payoffs will be much lower on average than win payoffs. Betting 'show' is really playing it safe while win betting is a bit more risky, yet the rewards are better.

In the UK and Europe, betting to show is less commonplace since the number of "payout places" varies depending on the size of the field that takes part in the race. For example, in a race with seven or less runners in the UK, only the first two finishers would be considered winning bets with most bookmakers. Three places are paid for eight or more runners, whilst 16 runners or more will see the first four places being classed as "placed". Betting to place takes on a different meaning in the UK and Europe for this reason. In the US a place bet would only pay out if the horse in question finished first or second, whilst in the UK, a place bet would be deemed a winner based on the aforementioned criteria.

The term "Each Way" bet is used across the globe, but again has a different meaning depending on your location. An each way bet sees your total bet being split in two, with half being placed on the win, and half on the place. US bettors would only see a payout for a first or second place finish with this type of bet, whilst European and British bettors would receive a payout if the horse either wins, or is placed based on the place criteria as stated above. Most UK bookmakers cut the odds considerably for an each bet, offering the full odds if the horse wins but only a third, a quarter or a fifth of the odds if only the place section of the bet is successful.

Dangers


There are many dangers in horse racing for both horse and jockey: a horse can stumble and fall, exposing both jockey and horse to the danger of being trampled and possibly killed. Horses can also fall when jumping a hedge.

See also


  • Controversy in horse racing
  • Equestrian property
  • List of horse racing tracks
  • List of jockeys



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