A horse race is an equestrian performance sport in which two or more horses compete against each other in a set distance. A horse’s jockey rides the horse over this set distance for competition. The distance is measured in yards, and the winner is the first horse to cross the finish line.
St. Leger
The St Leger is a long distance flat race held in England. This classic race was established in 1776 and is the oldest of the five Classics in Britain. It is open to three-year-old fillies and colts.
The St Leger is held at Doncaster and is one of the most important fixtures of the British horse racing season. As such, there are plenty of lead-up races. These give punters a good idea of the form of the horses before the race.
There have been many great horses to win the St Leger. They include West Australian, Touchstone, Tracery, Champion, and Adayar.
Oaks
The Oaks is the last race of the year for three-year-old females. It is a Grade I stakes event, and the only staying race for fillies in the U.S. Several high-quality females are vying for the win.
Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez have won the Oaks twice. Other trainers looking to pick up an Oaks win include Ken McPeek and Bret Calhoun.
Lasqueti Spirit has won the VRC Oaks in 2011 and 2008. Her sire, Desert Dawn, also won the Santa Anita Oaks in 2007. And Todd Pletcher has a chance to tie Woody Stephens’ record of five Oaks wins.
Derby
The Kentucky Derby is one of the most exciting sporting events in the United States. Held annually since 1875, the race takes place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. During the three-day weekend leading up to the race, the city hosts a series of festivities. Many of these events are held at ballrooms and other venues in downtown Louisville.
In fact, the Derby is a lot more than just a horse race. It also includes a full day of races on Saturday. This event has seen its share of controversy over the years, most notably the postponement of the 2022 Derby due to a disqualification of the Medina Spirit.
Preakness
The Preakness horse race is held in Baltimore, Maryland. It is run on the third Saturday in May.
It is a one-and-a-half mile race on a dirt track. The first Preakness was run in 1873. Since then, it has been run at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. This race is also known as the “Run for the Black-Eyed Susans”.
It is considered the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. 13 horses have won the race. Some of the notable winners include American Pharoah, California Chrome, and Secretariat.
The Preakness is one of the largest horse races in North America. It was once run at a mile-and-a-half, but was later reduced to the current length of one and a half miles.
Triple Crown
The Triple Crown is one of the most prestigious achievements in sports. It is awarded to horses that have won three major races during the same year. In the US, these are the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Each of these are separate events, but the winner is awarded the Triple Crown trophy, which is a silver ring.
There are 20 horses that can compete in a Triple Crown race. Each has only one shot at each event. Affirmed was the first unraced 2-year-old to win a Triple Crown. He also took home Horse of the Year honors.
Handicap races
Handicap races are weighted events that give all horses a better chance of winning. Horses are given different weight allowances depending on their ability and age.
The official rating is a good way to gauge a horse’s current abilities. A rating of 80 may be a sign that the horse is in decline, while a rating of 100 could indicate that the horse is at the peak of its ability.
For each point a rating exceeds, the handicapper gives the horse one pound less in weight in the saddle. This is designed to allow for equal chances for all horses to finish on time.
Place bets
A place bet is a simple horse race betting option. It is similar to an each way bet, except that it involves placing a bet on the horse to finish in one or more of the top two positions. This gives gamblers a wider array of winning possibilities, and allows them to collect if the horse finishes behind another runner.
Place bets are a great way to manage your bankroll. They are less volatile than a straight win bet, but they still provide a chance to profit. You can bet on a horse that you like and know is in the top two or three, and collect if the horse ends up in a position that you did not expect.