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Short History of Horse Racing In The UK

James Eustace Horse Racing 19 July 202218 July 2022

The sport of horse racing dates to about 6,500 years ago in Central Asia. Research indicates that Asian people domesticated horses in modern-day Ukraine and Kazakhstan during this period, and the sport of horse racing soon followed these developments. It…

6 Types of Horse Racing Competitions in The UK

James Eustace Competitions and Jockeys 22 June 202218 July 2022

Horse racing consists of a range of disciplines, and a trainer can spend their entire lives mastering one discipline in the sport. Horse racing can be divided into 6 categories that constitute flat racing, stakes racing, maiden racing, quarter horse…

How to Take Care of Your Racehorse

It takes a lot of responsibility and conditioning to keep any racehorse in shape. This article is a guide for amateurs and professionals on how to take care of their racehorses. If a horse is to compete on the international…

5 Tips For Reading The Form of A Racehorse Before Betting On A Race

James Eustace Horse Racing 7 June 202218 July 2022

Every bettor receives a short guide at the bookies for betting on a horse. However, experienced bettors can look beyond the current track record of a horse before placing their wager. Horse racing fans can follow our story at James…

Short History of Horse Racing In The UK
The sport of horse racing dates to about 6,500 years ago in Central Asia. Research indicates that Asian people domesticated horses in modern-day Ukraine and Kazakhstan during this period, and the sport of horse racing soon followed these developments. It would be another few millennia before the sport would be popularised in Europe. Chariot racing became popular around 1,000 BC in Africa and Europe. The people from Greece used horses to drag chariots during gladiator tournaments and in battle with their enemies. Horse racing became an official sport for the first time in Europe around 660 BC. In fact, the first official horse race was recorded during the 33rd Olympiad in 664 BC. The horse rider was given the term ‘’jockey’’, a name that has survived through the centuries. Even though the first horses arrived in Britain around 200 AD, the British people only started to develop an interest in horse racing around the late 17th century. The first official horse race in the UK did not happen until 1679. In the following centuries, the British would fall totally in love with the sport. In modern times horse racing is the second most popular sport in the UK, with more than 6 million people in the country showing an interest in the sport. The monarchy also showed an increasing interest in the sport over the centuries. Queen Elizabeth has owned several championship stallions over the years. It is also one of the few sports where members of royalty have participated in the sport themselves, with the likes of Princess Anne, who competed in the Olympic Games in 1976. The sport also makes a sizable contribution to the UK economy. It is estimated that the sport contributes more than £300 million a year to the county’s economy. Furthermore, sports bettors spend billions of pounds on horse races annually. Even though horse racing rules and tracks vary from country to country, people across the world and from all walks of life show immense love for the sport. Horse racing will likely continue to captivate audiences for many more years to come.
6 Types of Horse Racing Competitions in The UK
Horse racing consists of a range of disciplines, and a trainer can spend their entire lives mastering one discipline in the sport. Horse racing can be divided into 6 categories that constitute flat racing, stakes racing, maiden racing, quarter horse racing, harness racing, and endurance racing. Flat Racing By far the most popular form of racing, flat racing is a horse race that takes place on a flat, level surface. The Kentucky Derby is one of the most popular flat racing competitions in the world. Stakes Racing This type of racing is like flat racing, but the competition involves jockeys and horses competing for high stakes. There are serious returns for sports bettors and huge prizes on the line for jockeys. These races may at times only allow certain breeds to qualify for a chance to participate. Maiden Racing As the name suggests, it is the first race a horse undertakes before they are allowed to participate in more serious competitions. These are also horses who haven’t managed to claim a win in the past. Quarter Horse Racing These types of races focus on a horse’s sheer speed and determination to win. These are short races that may be run in a quarter mile or less. It is exciting to watch these horses as they show off the extent of their abilities on the track. Harness Racing This type of racing requires a horse to move at a specific pace or trot while pulling the jockey behind them in a two-wheeled seat that the rider straps themselves into. Endurance racing Endurance racing requires a horse to run on a track for a longer time, testing its speed and stamina. The longest known endurance race is the Mongol Derby which is longer than 1,000 kilometres. Jockeys and trainers need to take a horse through years of conditioning and training before they are ready to perform on any racetrack.
How to Take Care of Your Racehorse
It takes a lot of responsibility and conditioning to keep any racehorse in shape. This article is a guide for amateurs and professionals on how to take care of their racehorses. If a horse is to compete on the international stage, it needs to be conditioned to show immense athletic prowess to be successful on the racetrack. Horses will naturally show different levels of endurance, and the desire to win needs to be ingrained from a young age. Jockeys and trainers need to prepare their horses for a variety of challenges and instances before they are ready for the racetrack. The major elements that define a healthy racehorse include heart health, respiratory health, hoof care, bone health, and behaviour. Heart Health Young horses are the best racing contenders. To keep their heart strong and healthy, they undergo frequent dental checks and are fed supplements to ensure they can keep up with the physical strain on the racetrack. Bone Health A trainer needs to take all the necessary precautions so that their horse does not suffer an injury. When a racehorse breaks a leg, they need to be put down on some occasions. The bones of a horse take a lot of strain during racing, and it can take some time for horses to adapt to the stresses when the horse is racing. Hoof Care The hoofs of a horse take on most of the impact when they are racing across the track. The force being placed on the lower limbs also makes the feet susceptible to injury. The limbs should undergo treatment to allow limbs to work efficiently. Respiratory Health A racehorse needs to have fully functioning lungs and airways to perform competitively on the racetrack. They need to be vaccinated frequently to prevent any respiratory diseases from developing. Racehorse Behaviour The behaviour of a horse is always a good indication of its ability to compete on the racetrack. A trainer needs to learn to recognise slight changes in a horse’s behaviour to pick up a health problem. Get more tips on caring for your horse by visiting non-profit organisations such as The British Horse Society of the UK.
5 Tips For Reading The Form of A Racehorse Before Betting On A Race
Every bettor receives a short guide at the bookies for betting on a horse. However, experienced bettors can look beyond the current track record of a horse before placing their wager. Horse racing fans can follow our story at James Eustace for more tips and advice. Here is a short guide on reading the form of a racehorse. Deciphering The Form Figures Next to every racehorse on the guide at the bookies, there are form figures (read from right to left) and guidelines that aim to tell bettors about the form and track record of every horse. For example, if the figures read 678312, it means that the horse came second in its last race, first in the one before and so on. Bold Numbers and Punctuation Racecards can have a bold number that indicates that a run took place on an all-weather track. Figures can also include a forward slash or hyphen. The figures to the left of a hyphen refer to a race that was run in a previous season, and a forward slash describes a race that occurred two seasons ago. Abbreviations on Race Cards Bettors can also get an idea about the form of the horse by interpreting several abbreviations on the race card. ‘’BF’’ refers to a horse that lost regardless of being a favourite to win, ‘’CD’’ signifies that a horse has won over distance and course, and ‘’C’’ refers to a course winner. Looking Beyond Form Figures There can be many reasons for a horse losing or winning a race, and the form figures do not always tell the full story. The race results could have been because the horse may have suffered interference from other others during the run, or perhaps the jockey dropped the horsewhip during the race. Every Second Counts In A Race It should be noted that winning margins can often be incredibly small and that the difference between a winning and losing horse can be less than a split second. Professional bettors know not to dismiss a run if a horse has achieved consistent finishes and results. There could be any number of reasons to explain a horse’s performance on the racetrack. Reach out to us for more tips when betting on horse racing at the bookies.