A false start in horse racing is when the steward responsible for getting the race underway calls horses back to ‘begin’ again. Much like in athletics, when an athlete sets off before the gun, in horse racing a false start happens if the steward believes one or more horses have Read more…
In Flat racing, horses go into numbered starting stalls which have been pre-assigned in a draw. Some horses can become agitated going into the stalls but they are looked after at the start by expertly trained stalls handlers and the stalls are designed to start the race in an orderly Read more…
Stand to the “near side” (left side) of the horse, between the head and shoulder, ideally at the throat latch. Standing behind a horse is also unsafe, as they have a blind spot there as well. When standing close to the horse, standing next to the horse’s body is the Read more…
4 to 6 BCS. The recommendation is for horses to be maintained between a 4 to 6 BCS. Breeding mares should range between 6 to 7 and stallions have the best success with scores between 5 to 6. Performance horses typically have a BCS of 4 to 5. What is Read more…
body condition score. The body condition score (BCS) allows one to access if the horse is too thin, too fat, or about right. What does BCS mean in horses? Body Condition ScoringBody Condition Scoring (BCS) is an objective system of evaluating a horse’s level of body condition (amount of stored Read more…
stables. The stables There are horse racing stables at every racecourse. This is where the horses are kept before and after races and where they are assessed by vets for pre- and post-race injuries. The stables area cannot be accessed by racegoers and is usually situated out of public view. Read more…
Classified Stakes Eligibility for these races is determined by a horse’s handicap mark but the weight carried is not. For example, the race might be designed for horses rated 0-65 but all carry the same weight whether their handicap rating is 65 or not. What makes a race a stakes Read more…
Stakes races showcase the top horses in a particular group; the groups might be three-year-olds, three-year-old fillies, or the winners of select races. There are many variables used to determine the entries in a stakes race. What is a stakes day in horse racing? : a horse race in which Read more…
Entry: Two or more horses owned by the same stable or (in some cases) trained by the same trainer and running as a single betting unit. What is a coupled entry in horse racing? Horses in a given race that have the same owner are often “coupled” for betting purposes Read more…
“They have to be super brave, they can’t be spooky and chicken and in general you like them to be quiet.” He points out that “the really high ended equitation horses are beautiful movers and beautiful jumpers. The really good ones are fancy horses.” Today’s equitation horse is successful in Read more…