HORSERACING - THE BASICS EXPLAINED
If you’re new to racing then we know it can be a bit baffling, so we’ve put together a guide to help give you an understanding of the horseracing industry, basic terminology and popular phrases you might hear on a raceday.
HISTORY
- Racing is known as ‘The Sport of Kings’
- King James I had a deep interest in racing and he established Newmarket as a royal resort and began racing horses in the town, but it was his son Charles II who made Newmarket into what is now commonly known as the headquarters of British racing.
QUICK FACTS
- Horseracing is Britain’s second favourite sport
- Flat racing yields the biggest prize money and some of the most prestigious races are on flat, this includes the 2000 & 1000 Guineas which are staged at Newmarket
RACEHORSES
- Racehorses are natural athletes and known for their speed and stamina but need to be well looked after and trained to meet their full potential
- The speed of a racehorse is combined both by nature and nurture so biology and diet
JOCKEYS
- Jockeys are among the most disciplined sportspeople in the world, with strict diets and rigorous training regimes
- Jockeys must strive and stay fit and lightweight to perform at the top of the sport
TRAINERS
- Every active racehorse in the sport has a dedicated trainer, often owners will ask particular trainers to take on their horses but trainers can and often own and train their own horses
- A racehorse trainer make the day to day decisions of how a horse is cared for including; it’s training, diet and schooling in order to achieve peak physical condition for racedays
JOCKEY SILKS
- Since the 18th Century racing colours have shown who owns the horse, there are over 26,000 colour combinations
- The unique racing silks and colours represent a horse’s owner, it allows the commentators and spectators to easily identify the racehorses
