Discipline - Horse Racing
Introduction to Horse Racing
Man's competitive nature has driven him to race horses since he figured out how to domesticate them. Chariot racing was a national sport in ancient Greece for over 1,500 years. The first official chariot races featured four-horse chariots at the 25th Olympiad in 680 BC. Despite the small size of their horses (around 14.2 hh), there were races on horseback recorded as early as 648 BC but it took over 300 years for these events to attain the same prestige as chariot races.
RACING - UNDER SADDLE
Racing is often called "the sport of Kings" because of its close association with the British monarchy. But there was rich history of racing in Britain (and other countries) long before Henry VIII became its first royal patron in the 1500s. An avid gambler and horseman, he founded the Royal Paddocks at Hampton Court. Thanks to James I, Newmarket became the headquarters of British racing in the 1600's and remains so to this day. Native British "running" horses were crossed with three middle-eastern horse - the Byerley Turk, the Darley Arabian and the Godolphin Arabian (named after their British owners) - to form the foundation of the Thoroughbred breed. These horses were NOT used to increase the speed of the native stock but for their ability to consistently pass along their genes, allowing the British horses to breed consistently true to type. The offspring of these three stallions founded the four principal Thoroughbred bloodlines including the legendary Eclipse. Unbeaten on the turf, Eclipse's descendants formed some of the most influential bloodlines in racing to this day.
England has more racetracks and races for its size than any other country, though Thoroughbred racing is also hugely popular in the U.S., France and Italy. Not coincidentally, those countries also continue to be the most influential in Thoroughbred breeding. Other countries such as South Africa, Australia, South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan also have thriving racing industries. Besides Thoroughbred, other breeds of horses that race under saddle include:
- Quarterhorse
- Paints
- Arabs
- French Trotters
There are other kinds of horse races besides on the flat around an oval dirt or turf track. Steeplechasing, for instance, involves horses racing together over brush fences either on an oval track or over natural fences across open countryside. It began in 1763 with a match race between two gentleman stretching 4.5 miles across open fields between the steeples of Buttevant Church and St. Leger Church - hence the term "steeplechase". The Grand National, the grandfather of all steeplechases, began in 1839. The most famous and demanding steeplechase in the world, the Grand National runs a little over 4 miles and has 30 of the most difficult fences in the sport. Scotland, Ireland and Wales stage their own Grand Nationals as well. The 3.5 mile Cheltenham Gold Cup is considered on of the most prestigious steeplechases. Even the U.S. runs a steeplechase of sorts, the more informal Maryland Hunt Cup. Because of the need for speed and endurance, Thoroughbreds remain the most popular horse used in steeplechasing today.
There are also hurdle races that involve fences lower than steeplechasing fences and give way if hit hard enough. The races are also shorter, with the Champion Hurdle running just over 2 miles.
An amateur version of this is the point-to-point races that are restricted to horses that have run with a recognized hunt pack. They are run over an oval track similar to professional steeplechases. They must be at least three miles long and involve no fewer than 18 fences. Point-to-point races are predominantly a British and Irish sport but have gained popularity in the U. S. as well. A hunter pace is a similar race but riders start out individually rather than in a pack. A pair pace is the same thing but with two riders working together. Finally, endurance races are another sport that amateurs riders enjoy.
RACING - IN HARNESS:
The first evidence of a sophisticated use of horses in harness is a training manual for chariot horses written around 1360 BC. Fortunately equipment and breeding has come a long way since then but the thrill of the race remains the same. Modern harness racing is hugely popular both in the U. S. and Europe, with prize money equivalent to that offered on the flat track.
The American Standardbred is the foremost trotter in the world, valued as much as any Thoroughbred. In Europe, the Russian Trotter and French Trotter are also popular. In Italy, more trotting horses are bred than Thoroughbreds. In Australia and New Zealand, trotting is virtually a national pastime. One New Zealand horse, the Standardbred gelding Cardigan Bay, was commemorated on a stamp. In Switzerland the racing sulky is actually a lightweight sleigh with runners instead of wheels.
TROTTING VS. PACING
In the U.S. the Pacer, which moves its legs in lateral pairs, is the predominant favorite over the conventional trotter, which moves its legs in diagonal pairs. The Pacer's action is assisted by hobbles, a harness that connects the front leg to the back leg, making it less likely to break its gait. When a trotter breaks into a gallop during a race, the rules state that the horse must move to the outside of the pack, costing precious seconds and guaranteeing that horse will not win. In a sport where heavy betting is a main feature, this extra element of risk is a major consideration. Trotters are preferred in Europe, Russia and Scandinavia. In France there are even races for trotters under saddle as well as in harness.
