what is a 'bell course" in english horse racing?

What makes a horse race track special?

Each horse race track on our list has a something special about them. Whether it’s storied history, lore or mystique, just mentioning these famous horse tracks conjures up memories of great sporting moments.

What are racehorses called in England?

In fact all racehorses are called English Thoroughbred, the breed having been created in England.

What is the origin of term in horse racing?

Term stems from "Father Bill" Daly, famous old-time horseman, who developed many great jockeys. bit: A stainless steel, rubber or aluminum bar that is attached to the bridle, which fits in the horse's mouth and is one of the means by which a jockey exerts guidance and control.

What is Bull Ring in horse racing?

Bull Ring: A small track where the oval is generally less than one mile and, thus, has very tight turns. Buy the race: Using every single horse running in a specific race in an exotic wager.

What is the bell for at horse racing?

Historically, the ringing of the bell served as a warning to anyone still on the track that the field was approaching.

Why do they ring the bell at Ascot?

Listen out for the bell, which signifies that all the jockeys have been weighed out and are about to mount their horses and ride out to the track.

What are the different classes in horse racing?

There are four primary horse racing classes: claiming races, maiden races, allowance races, and stakes races.

What does course mean in horse racing?

A racecourse is a track on which horses race. [British]regional note: in AM, use racetrack. Synonyms: hippodrome, course, track, racetrack More Synonyms of racecourse. COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary.

Why is it called Ladies Day at the races?

The name Ladies' Day is thought to originate from a time when races were commonly thought of as men-only activities. On this day, women would typically be offered free or discounted entry to the track to enjoy festivities.

Why is it called Royal Ascot?

The origins of the Royal Ascot Dress Code can be traced back to the early 19th century when Beau Brummel, a close friend of the Prince Regent, decreed that men of elegance should wear waisted black coats and white cravats with pantaloons to the Royal Meeting.

What is the best grade in horse racing?

The AGSC gives four different “grades”, ranked from lowest to highest: listed, Grade III (GIII), Grade II (GII), and Grade I (I). Listed is the lowest grade that a stakes race can be given from the committee.

What is the highest class in horse racing?

Graded and Listed races The highest level is Grade 1, where horses compete off the same weight (but with allowances for age or gender), and this includes illustrious races such as the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Champion Hurdle.

How much do jockeys get for a ride?

However, as a general rule of thumb Flat jockeys receive around 8.5% of the advertised win prize and 2.61% of the advertised place prize. Jump Jockeys receive around 11.03% of the win prize and 3.44% of the place prize. The riding fee is negotiated annually between the PJA and the ROA.

How many horse racing courses are there in the UK?

60 racecoursesThere are 60 racecourses in Britain, from Perth in Scotland to Newton Abbot in Devon.

Why are horses pulled up?

Horses can be pulled up for numerous reasons including tiredness, injury, risk of sustaining an injury and breathing difficulties. Pulling a horse up tends to be a more common sight in jump racing, particularly in long-distance races like the Grand National or when ground conditions are testing.

What is a breeze up horse?

For those that don't know the breeze-up sales are when unraced 2-year-olds are ridden and galloped or 'breezed' on the racecourse. Most of the horses have been purchased as yearlings by their consignors who spend the next 6 months breaking them in and riding them away, and getting them ready to gallop at the sale.

What is a horse's race record?

A horse’s race record which is denoted by figures next to its name in a racecard. The form may also include some letters, for example F denoting a fall.

What is a horse's tack?

A piece of tack that fits over a horse’s head and to which the bit and reins are attached.

What is the purpose of headgear in horse racing?

Commonly used as a way to give horses race experience before tackling hurdles and fences. A race run over fences. A form of headgear which consists of pieces of sheepskin placed on either side of the bridle and performs a similar job as blinkers in helping the horse to concentrate.

What is a blinker horse?

Blinkers. A type of headgear fitted to a horse that limits its field of vision, mainly from each side. Blinkers are designed to help horses concentrate in races. Bloodstock. A term used to describe the part of the racing industry which deals with racehorse breeding, be it at the sales, stud farms or elsewhere.

What is a colt?

The person responsible for the overall management of a racecourse on a raceday. Colt. An uncastrated male horse aged four years old or younger. A colt older than four is referred to as an entire or horse (if still racing) or stallion (if at stud). Connections. A term often used in place of a horse’s owners and trainer.

What is the role of bookmakers in horse racing?

The on-course bookmakers, often close to the running rail, who compete against one another for trade. Traditionally an integral part of the racing experience, bookmakers with names like Jolly Joe, loud check jackets, and voices like foghorns used to shout the odds and hand our colourful cards as receipts. While their clerks entered the bets in their ledgers and tic tac men, standing on orange boxes, waved their white gloved hands in signals of the trade, communicating changes in the horses’ prices.

What is allowance in horse racing?

Allowance. The deduction in the weight a horse must carry. This can be a result of the age or the gender of the horse or the type of jockey (amateur). Ante-post. A bet placed in advance of the final declarations of a race. Bookmakers usually offer better odds, but no refunds are given in the event of a non-runner.

What is horse racing?

Horse racing is the second largest spectator sport in Great Britain, and one of the longest established, with a history dating back many centuries.

When were horse races first held in Britain?

Horses were used as beasts of burden in pre-Roman times, but it is thought that the first horse races to take place in Britain were organised by Carl in Yorkshire around 200 AD.

What is point to point horse racing?

Point-to-point is a form of steeplechasing for amateur riders. All the above forms of the sport are run under the auspices of the governing and regulatory body for horse racing in Great Britain, the British Horseracing Authority. with the exception of point-to-pointing which is administered by the Point-to-Point Authority with ...

What are the most important flat races in the world?

Britain is home to some of the world's most important flat races and race meetings. While ancient horse races like the Kiplingcotes Derby and Newmarket Town Plate are now mainly curiosities, there are many older races which retain modern relevance. The five British Classics – the 1,000 Guineas, 2,000 Guineas, The Oaks, The Derby and the St. Leger – were founded in the late 18th and early 19th centuries and still represent the pinnacle of achievement for each generation of horses. The structure and distances of these races, if not the exact names, have been adopted by many other European horse racing authorities, such as Ireland. Royal Ascot is the major flat racing festival in Europe and attracts horses from all over the world. The modern flat season in Britain now also climaxes with British Champions Day, a festival of championship races, also held at Ascot .

What is the oldest racecourse in the world?

The oldest is Chester Racecourse, which dates to the early 16th century. Unlike some other countries, notably the United States, racing in Britain usually takes place on turf. However, there are six courses which have all-weather tracks – Kempton Park, Lingfield, Southwell, Wolverhampton, Chelmsford City and Newcastle.

How many miles is horse racing in Great Britain?

There are two main forms of horse racing in Great Britain. Flat racing, which is run over distances between 5 furlongs and 2 miles 5 furlongs 159 yards on courses without obstacles. National Hunt racing, races run over distances between 2 miles and 4. +.

Where did horse racing originate?

Modern-day racing originated in Britain, so many figures from British racing have shaped the sport. Admiral Rous established the handicapping process for horse racing, including the weight-for-age scale, while in the 20th century, form expert and some time administrator of the sport, Phil Bull established Timeform whose ratings are often used to assess the all-time great horses.

What is form in horse racing?

Form: The current condition of a horse; may also refer to The Daily Racing Form publication.

What is a Derby horse?

Derby: A stakes race for three year old horses. Distance of ground: A route race or a race run around two turns. Dog: A cone or other obstruction placed a specified distance from the rail of the turf course to keep horses from damaging that portion of the grass.

What is a handily workout?

Handily: A fairly strenuous workout where the jockey urges the horse on but does not use the whip.

What is a broodmare sire?

Broodmare sire: A male horse that produces female progeny that are used for breeding. Bug Boy: An apprentice jockey. Bull Ring: A small track where the oval is generally less than one mile and, thus, has very tight turns. Buy the race: Using every single horse running in a specific race in an exotic wager.

What is the middle distance of a horse race?

Middle distance: A race longer than seven furlongs but shorter than 1 1/8 miles. Miler: A horse that prefers to race at or near a mile in distance. Minus Pool: When enough money is bet on one horse that the pool is insufficient, after the track take, to pay the holders of the winning ticket the legal minimum odds.

What does "eased" mean in racing?

Eased: A horse that is pulled up or stopped prior to finishing the race

What is claiming race?

Claiming Race: A race where each horse in the field has a price and can be purchased by any person that makes a valid claim prior to the running of the race.

What does each way mean in horse racing?

Each-way means you are splitting your bet in half, where one half is all about winning, but the other half is focused on placing (finishing 2 nd, 3 rd, and sometimes 4 th ). This increases your chance of getting money back, but means if your horse does win, you win less than if you had just bet ‘on the nose’ (to win). Whilst the first half to win remains the same, the other place half of your bet is divided by the bookmaker at a fraction of the odds (usually a quarter or a fifth). If your horse wins, you get the win part as well as the place part, but if the horse places you just get the place part.

How to work out winnings on a horse?

Although most bookmakers provide that information on your slip, you can work out your winnings by dividing the first number by the second and then multiplying by the amount of money you put on . If you put £10 on a horse at 5/1, you would win £50 and get back your initial £10 on top (£60 returned). If you put £5 on a horse at 9/4, you would win £11.25 plus your £5 (£16.25 returned).

What is forecast in horse racing?

A forecast is when you pick two horses to come 1 st and 2 nd, whilst a tricast is when you pick three horses to come 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd. If you don’t want to be specific about which order each horse will come in, you must select ‘reverse forecast’ or ‘combination tricast’, but these do mean you will spend more money or lower your stake.

What is accumulator bet?

It is a bet involving multiple horses. If all the horses win, the payout is much larger than just one bet on one horse. A double, treble, fourfold, fivefold and higher are all popular accumulators.

How much weight does a jockey carry?

If a horse is carrying 9 stone 5 pounds and the jockey is J Andrews (3), the horse only carries 9 stone 2 pounds.

What happens when a judge cannot split two horses across the line?

This is when the judge cannot split two horses across the line, even by a nose. Therefore, both are declared winners and both are paid half (including in betting). The next horse is placed third.

What does "bookie" mean in racing?

A person or company who accepts your bets on a race day, shortened to ‘bookie’.

What is the ground in horse racing?

The Ground, or ‘the Going” as some call it, is one of the most important aspects in racing, along with the type of track that the horses run on.

What does "firm ground" mean in horse racing?

Firm ground means horses can run faster, and that’s usually when track records are set. Good to Firm (GF) After Firm ground we have Good to Firm. This is when we’ve had enough rain (or watering) to take most of the firmness out of the ground but it’s still on the fast (or Firm) side.

Why do horses use firm ground?

This isn’t as common as it once was because the racecourses now water their course to “keep the ground safe.”. Basically take the jar out of it that could cause an injury. You will get this type of ground in the summer months. Firm ground means horses can run faster, and that’s usually when track records are set.

What does it mean when a horse is slow?

Slow. This means that the track has a lot of moisture in it and it is slightly harder work for the horses than usual. You will only see this after a lot of rain, or when we get slow during the winter.

Why is a flat track important?

This is very important in relation a horses stamina. A flat track is usually one where it’s easy to run on and you need speed – it will suit horses who are short on stamina and have more of a turn of foot. The opposite happens on stiff tracks; you more than likely have an uphill finish and it’s tough work for horses to finish their races.

Is it better to go right or left handed in flat racing?

Right hand or left hand preference is less common in flat racing, but it does still happen. A lot of flat races take place on a straight course but there are horses out there who perform much better going right or left handed. To sum up; this is definitely something to be aware of in jumps racing and it’s easily viewed by the horses jumping.

Is Irish racing good to soft?

This is unique to Irish Racing. It’s basically the same as Good to Soft in the UK but not quite as close to call it the exact same. You will see variations like “Good to Yielding” or “Yielding to Soft” in Ireland; Yielding is just a fraction less than Good ground and it is quite common to see Yielding in the ground description in Ireland. It would more than likely fall between “Good” and “Good to Soft” on the list in the UK.

Where are the fences jumped in horse racing?

A shoe-in to be among the top 10 horse racing tracks, some of the fences jumped at Aintree near Liverpool in northwest England are so famous that they even have names!

What are the famous horse races in Japan?

Famous Races: Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), Tenno Sho ( Autumn), Japan Cup. Any list of famous horse tracks has to include “The Racecourse of Racecourses” as Tokyo is known. Complete with one of the largest video screens anywhere in the world, the Turf Vision, this venue is another undulating one.

What is the oldest spectator sport in the world?

There are few things in life that match the experience of going to a horse race track for a big day. This is one of the oldest spectator sports in the world, evoking images of packed colosseums for the chariot races of Classical times.

How many horse races are there in Tokyo?

More than 220,000 horse racing fans can pack into Tokyo Racecourse. They don’t do things by halves in Japan, with eight Grade 1 stakes races held at this track from February through until November.

What race is on the first Tuesday of November?

Famous Races : Melbourne Cup, Black Caviar Lightning, LKS Mackinnon Stakes. If you head Down Under to watch horse racing, then it may well to be see the race that stops a nation. Australians treat Melbourne Cup day on the first Tuesday in November as a national holiday.

Where is the Epsom Downs horse race?

Epsom Downs in the southeast of England is the site of the premier British Classic, which also happens to be one of the biggest horse races in the world – and richest in the UK.

Where is the Victoria Racing Club's spring carnival?

The Spring Carnival held across several horse racing venues in and around Melbourne during what is the Northern Hemisphere’s autumn is a real gala of equine excellence in Australia.

When do horses train?

Race horses almost always train in the early morning hours while they are fresh and before the heat of the day sets in. Professional exercise riders often take Thoroughbreds through their paces, although in the US especially, many jockeys participate in morning workouts at the track.

How do Thoroughbred owners select race trainers?

Thoroughbred owners select race trainers based on a variety of criteria including previous or ongoing relationships, racecourse access, success rates, training methods, amount of attention they give to their horses, relationships with jockeys, and price. Many top trainers throughout the world are second or third generation race trainers ...

Where can I watch Thoroughbreds train?

To get a glimpse of how Thoroughbreds train, head out to the gallops at Newmarket or similar jockey club estates to watch them live in action. It's quite a sight to see horse after horse, some of them national or even international champions, going neck and neck out on the fields. When you see the Caulfield Cup results this year or watch contestants cross the finish line in the Autumn Double, you can say, "I saw them breeze last week. It was magnificent!"

How is racing different in the US?

Additionally, Thoroughbred racing in the US is flat racing only, and very little racing occurs on grass; most races are held on dirt or on synthetic tracks (similar to the All-Weather in the UK).

What is a green broke horse?

Instead, they tend to be what is known as "green broke," meaning they respond to basic stop and go commands and perform the basic trot and canter gaits when not walking or galloping.

Why is jockey training important?

This is advantageous in that the jockey is able to develop a relationship with the horse prior to racing and discourage any bad behaviours right away. It also allows horses to work at top speeds simulating racing, which can't always be achieved with an exercise rider.

Where are Thoroughbred horses bred?

There are now huge Thoroughbred venues in France, Argentina, Peru, South Africa, India , the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore, to name a few.

What is horse racing called?

Horse racing with a two-wheeled cart (a “sulky”) is called harness racing. The racing horses are either trotters or pacers, depending on their gait. Harness racing is a global sport but is most prevalent in New Zealand, Australia, North America, and Europe. Harness racing is fun to watch, but there is a lot to understand about this unique sport ...

How old do horses start racing?

Harness horses typically start their racing career as two or three-year-olds. If a horse is a trotter, it only competes in trotter races, and pacers race only pacers.

Why are sulkies called jog carts?

Using two poles, the sulky is attached to a harness that goes around the horse’s neck and shoulders . There are typically two types of sulkies – “jog carts” and “race bikes.”.

Why are standardbreds restricted to harness racing?

In most places, harness racing is restricted to Standardbreds due to their long, muscular bodies and shorter legs. In fact, its unique build and extraordinary ability to trot or pace with speed earned the standardbred its name way back in the 19th century.

What is cart racing?

When cart racing started, races pitted horses driven and trained by their owners against one another. Over the last couple of decades, harness racing has become more specialized, and now owners engage professional drivers and trainers for their horses.

What has led to faster and faster racing times?

Lighter and more efficient sulkies have led to faster and faster racing times.

What is a whip in horse racing?

Drivers usually carry a light whip to direct the horse. The whip is generally struck at the sulky shafts, and its use is strictly regulated by statute. In reality, whips in harness racing encourage the horse with cues and aren’t used to inflict pain.