| There has been horse racing of sorts for many many | | | | on an artificial surface, which can be used all year |
| years. Horse racing began in Assyria in c.1500 B.C. and | | | | round (hence the name All Weather). Many of the All |
| Chariot Racing was a popular event in Roman Times. | | | | Weather H.racing tracks also have floodlit tracks |
| It was in fact the Romans who are thought to have | | | | meaning they can offer night racing. |
| ran the first horse race in the UK, however the first | | | | Horse Racing Categories - National Hunt |
| actual recorded event of a meeting was in 1174, this | | | | The third category is National Hunt where horses |
| took place at a horse fair in the north-west part of | | | | compete on turf over longer distances ranging from 1 |
| London called Smithfield. | | | | mile 6 furlongs (very minimal number of junior bumper |
| Royal Connections | | | | races) and 4 miles 4 furlongs. Within National Hunt |
| The Royal Family are behind many of the historic | | | | there are further classification types, these are |
| developments that changed and shaped racing over | | | | Bumpers (also known as National Hunt Flat races) |
| the years, with Henry II importing horses specifically for | | | | where there are no obstacles and are aimed at giving |
| breeding and Charles II being the first to introduce a set | | | | horses the experience of competing on a race track, |
| of rules in 1664 (for the Newmarket Town Plate). It | | | | Chases where the competitors must clear fences and |
| was in 1752 the Jockey Club formed and penned The | | | | Hurdles where they must jump hurdles. This means for |
| Rules of Racing. | | | | example that you can have a handicap chase or a |
| First horse races | | | | maiden hurdle etc. The difference between a fence |
| The Derby is the oldest flat race having begun in 1780 | | | | and a hurdle is quite significant with a fence being |
| at the Earl of Derby's estate in Epsom, it was run on a | | | | sturdier and higher. A hurdle race will only contain |
| sweepstakes basis and is still of course being run | | | | hurdles whereas a chase can contain a variety of |
| every year now, as is the Grand National which was | | | | obstacles including water jumps and ditches as well as |
| first run in 1856, however the first recorded national | | | | fences. |
| hunt (as we know it now) race was in Cork, Ireland in | | | | Horse Racing Classification |
| 1752, it was a 4 miles 5 furlongs contest between two | | | | Within each category of racing there are different |
| church steeples and that is the reason the term | | | | types of contests dependent on a horse's experience |
| 'steeplechase' was coined. | | | | and ability. Generally races are categorised by an age |
| Purpose and types of horse racing | | | | group (for example 4 year olds+) and/or an official |
| The purpose of a H.race is to determine the fastest of | | | | rating bracket (a score given to each horse by the |
| two or more horses over a specific distance with the | | | | handicapper based on its performance to date). |
| first horse to cross the winning line being the winner. | | | | Maiden races are for horses who have not yet won a |
| Horse Racing Categories - Flat | | | | race. Handicaps are when a horse is weighted |
| In the UK and Ireland there are three variations of race | | | | dependent on its past ability - in an ideal world, a |
| categories. The first is Flat Racing, where horses run | | | | handicap should result in all horses crossing the finish |
| over a distance between 5 furlongs and 2 miles 6 | | | | line at the same time. Nursery races are handicap |
| furlongs on turf. The flat season starts in March and | | | | races on the flat/all weather for two year old horses. |
| runs through to November with varying quality of | | | | Non handicaps are when all horses carry the same |
| races with Group 1 contests being the highest. The | | | | weight (although this figure can be adjusted based on |
| youngest horses competing on the flat are 2 years old. | | | | penalties applied as set out in the race terms - for |
| Horse Racing Categories - All Weather | | | | example the rules may state that all horses will carry 9 |
| All Weather Racing is the second race category and | | | | stone but that an additional weight of 3 pounds will be |
| is similar to flat racing other than contests take place | | | | applied to horses who have won in the last 6 weeks). |