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Racing
Flat racing is a race of ridden horses on a level track with no obstacles. The first horse past the finishing post wins.
| Group | Racing |
|---|---|
| Also called | Thoroughbred racing, horse racing on the flat |
| Olympic | no |
| Governing body | International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) |
| Where it is popular | Flat racing is held in dozens of countries, including Britain, Ireland, France, the United States, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and the UAE. Russia's main racecourse is the Central Moscow Hippodrome, founded in 1834. |
Horses and jockeys start together and race on turf, dirt or a synthetic surface. The most common distances are 1,000 to 2,400 m: short races are sprints and long ones are staying races. In some races all horses carry the same weight, while in handicaps stronger horses carry extra weight to even the chances. The most prestigious races for three-year-olds are called the classics, the best known being the Derby.
The main racing breed is the Thoroughbred, bred in England for speed. There are also races for Arabian and Akhal-Teke horses.
The horse carries a very light racing saddle; the jockey must wear a safety helmet and body protector, plus goggles and silks in the owner's colours.
The most famous races are the Epsom Derby in England (run since 1780), the Kentucky Derby in the USA, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in France and the Melbourne Cup in Australia. In Russia it is the Grand All-Russian Prize (Derby) at the Central Moscow Hippodrome, run since 1886.
Jockeys are adults or older teens who train at special schools; for example, the British Racing School takes trainees from 16. Children should start with ordinary riding lessons; in Britain there is also pony racing for ages 9 to 16.
Every modern Thoroughbred traces back to three founding sires: the Darley Arabian, the Godolphin Arabian and the Byerley Turk.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, dic.academic.ru, en.wikipedia.org, greatbritishracing.com