Typically, horse racing involves two or more horses ridden by jockeys, who ride the horses over a set distance for competition. A jockey’s job is to lead the horses, which he guides through the race, while attempting to make the most of each horse’s ability and athleticism.
Thoroughbred
Among the world’s most recognizable horse breeds, the Thoroughbred is a sturdy and agile horse with excellent speed, agility and endurance. They are used in many disciplines, including racing, show jumping, hunting, and combined training.
Today, the breeding of Thoroughbreds is a commercial industry. In 2017, nearly 1.1 million Thoroughbreds were registered in the U.S. The United Kingdom and France are the largest countries where Thoroughbreds are bred.
The breed originated in England in the 17th and 18th centuries. Native English mares were crossed with Turkoman, Barb, and Arabian stallions to create a sturdy, fast horse. The breed spread across Europe, South America, and Australia in the nineteenth century.
Arabian
Until recently, Arabian countries were not very prominent in the horse racing scene. But they have been making inroads in the last few years. In particular, the Emirates have emerged as the breeding grounds for world class horses. They are offering some of the most prestigious races and events.
Dubai is known as the hub of world class horse racing. The UAE government has been a major patron of the program. This has led to massive investment in infrastructure and facilities. However, the Arabian racing industry still needs to become more professional.
As a result, modern approaches have been used to explore the genetic background of endurance capacity in the breed. This will help breeding decisions and avoid costly mistakes caused by mismatched training.
Parimutuels
Historically, parimutuels in horse racing were state run and not for profit. This was the case until the late 1800’s. Today, most of the big horse racing tracks have gone commercial, and the small operators are fading into the sunset.
In a nutshell, parimutuels in horse racing are the same as in gambling: you place bets against others in a pool that is a totalisator, albeit the pool is split between winners, losers and the winners’ prize. A small fraction of the pool is retained by the “house” to pay for services, and the rest goes to the lucky winners. The big question remains: how does a parimutuel betting system work?
Hand riding
Among the many different disciplines of horse racing, hand riding is a method of controlling the horse without using a whip. It is based on the same principles as classical riding disciplines.
Hand riding refers to the practice of driving a horse by applying light pressure with both legs. Riders also soften their shoulders and lower back. This helps to increase the horse’s balance and improve the rider’s ability to steer the horse.
A jockey has an outfit that identifies the horse and its stable. The jockey’s headpiece is made of leather or nylon straps and is designed to control the horse.
When the race starts, the jockey’s foot is in a metal stirrup. The jockey’s hands are placed on the horse’s withers. They then pull the reins back and the rider places his weight on the vertical motion of the horse.
Claiming race
Basically a claiming race is a race that has a fixed price, a fixed cost, and allows for similar horses to compete. This type of race is usually below maiden races and often times below allowance races. It is also a type of Thoroughbred racing.
A claiming race is an interesting race that is designed to create a check and balance system. It is a type of horse racing where the ownership of a horse can be transferred from one owner to another.
The horse that runs in a claiming race is called a claimer. There are several types of claiming races. These include: conditioned claiming races, open claiming races, and starter allowance races.
Betting to show
Getting the most out of your horse racing bets involves a good understanding of the various types of bets that are available. These include the show bet, place bet, win bet, and across the board bet. Each one of these bets has its own advantages and disadvantages.
The show bet is a bet that covers the top three positions of a race. This is a more complicated wager than a simple place bet, but it offers the highest chance of winning. If you bet on a horse that finishes in the top three, you’ll be rewarded with a payout that is similar to a place bet.