Flat Racing

Flat racing means racing on a track with no obstacles. Most racers are thoroughbreds and quarterhorses.

The life of a racehorse starts with the breeder. He then finds an owner. The owner makes a very important decision: Who will be a horses trainer? The trainer then gets together a group of jockeys, exercise riders, grooms, a vet, and a farrier.

A jockey is someone who rides in races. An exercise rider rides the horse in workouts. A groom is someone who grooms, washes, and leads the horse into the walking ring. A vet is someone who takes care of the horse when it gets sick. A farrier is someone who puts on and removes horse shoes.

Most tracks are about one mile around.

Most jockeys weigh less then 110 lb. The reason jockeys are so light is because the less weight on the horses back the faster it will run.

Racing saddles are very light.

The earliest a thoroughbred can race is two years old. As the horse gets older the distance it runs gets longer.

Some of the biggest races are the Triple Crown, the Breeders Cup, and the Dubia World Cup. The Triple Crown consists of the Kentucky Derby, The Preakness, and the Belmont. The Belmont is the longest. The Kentucky Derby is a mile and a 1/4, the Preakness is a mile and an1/8, and the Belmont is a mile and a 1/2. The Breeders cup races consist of The Breeders Cup Classic, the Breeders Cup Distaff, the Breeders Cup Juvenile, nd the Breeders Cup Sprint. The Classic is a mile and a 1/4, the Distaff is a mile and an 1/8, The Juvenile is a mile and a 1/16, and the Sprint six furlongs.

Created on November 30, 1998.