Horse racing has always been a highly traditional sport, with some records of racing horses for entertainment evident in Ancient Rome.
The unique bond between humans and horses has always been interesting, and the sport of racing horses has evolved throughout the years. However, the basics of horse racing remain largely the same as when it first began.
This includes betting traditions based on the latest developments.
Check out the different types of horse racing bets to find out more. Here are five key things to know about horse racing.
What Is Handicapping?
Firstly, a handicap is commonly seen as a restriction in terms of a horse’s ability to race.
However, this isn’t necessarily the case for horse racing. A handicap in horse racing terms can be defined as a category that each thoroughbred falls into, which is based on their abilities.
Each horse is given a handicap that categorizes the weight that it can carry in order to maximize its chances of winning a particular race.
A handicap is not meant to hold any of the horses back. Instead, these are used in an attempt to equalize every racehorse’s chance of winning, and create a more level playing field for everybody involved.
Billion-Dollar Industry
Thanks to the widespread betting of horse racing, it has fast become a billion-dollar industry. This is thanks to the enormous popularity of certain events, as well as the role of online betting.
In general, the horse racing industry generates around $36 billion for the economy annually.
Another contributor to the enormous amounts of money that horse races come from is the selection of professionals that are needed in order to make each event run smoothly.
Thanks to the rising popularity of particular events, more staff and security are needed to support and control the crowds.
Not only that but being able to broadcast horse races in live time needs a team of skilled workers to carry out. It is estimated that there are 472,000 people working in the horse racing industry.
Thoroughbred Identity
Did you know that every thoroughbred racehorse has the same official birthday?
This was done to make it easier to track each horse’s age and to place them into the right categories. Their birthdates are used alongside 1st January in order to determine a horse’s age and stages of maturity as well as development.
As well as their birthdays, there are certain requirements that are placed on a thoroughbred’s name. In order to avoid using a phrase or word that is potentially offensive, owners need to have their horse’s name approved by the Jockey Club before officially using it.
Certain limitations on the names that horse owners can choose include no initials, avoiding any commercial significance that could be used as an advertisement, no religious, ethnic, or political references, and not choosing any name from the restricted list.
A horse’s name can have punctuation and be up to 18 characters long.
Tough Criteria For Jockeys
As well as thoroughbreds needing to identify with a number of rules, there is a tough criterion that jockeys must follow. Although there is no height limit for jockeys, most range from 4’10” to around 5’6” in height.
This is due to the strict requirements for weight which usually fall onto jockeys.
Because most thoroughbreds will perform better when they are carrying smaller amounts, jockeys need to have careful control over their weight in order to be successful. The average jockey weighs between 108 and 118 lbs.
They also need to have an excellent understanding of horse racing as well as a standout talent for riding horses.
Because of this, not everybody can become a jockey. They need to be skilled individuals who are able to guide thoroughbreds through any track, regardless of the distance. This also needs to be done without limiting the horse’s performance.
As a result, there are numerous diplomas and courses that can be taken in order to become a successful jockey.
Significance Of The Triple Crown
One of the most important events in thoroughbred racing is the series of races that make up the Triple Crown. These are three separate events that a racehorse must win in order to become a Triple Crown winner.
This has become one of the most significant titles out there, as there are only 13 winners in history.
The Triple Crown consists of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. Each of these is a highly intense event which makes some of the previous Triple Crown winners even more impressive for their stand-out performances on the tracks.
Summary
Horse racing is a highly competitive sport that involves a considerable amount of hard work, determination, and commitment.
Breeders and trainers need to be good at their job as well as jockeys, who must strive towards tough standards in order to become successful competitors.
There are so many factors that make up the horse racing industry, that it is no surprise to see the number of winnings and revenue that is generated during a typical year. Make sure you look into the latest Triple Crown contenders to find out more.