Horse racing variations

These are the most common types of horse racing:

Term thoroughbred comes from the strict breeding control of the horses. Known also as the 'gallops', most races are conducted over flat courses but there are also a small number of hurdle and steeple races, involves horses ridden by jockeys on turf tracks over distances from 800 to 3200 metres.

Harness Racing

Harness racing is a historic form of equine competition, and today's enormously popular sport. The Standardbred is the harness racing horse, trained to pace or trot at speeds up to 30 miles per hour, or more.

Quarter Horse Racing

The american quarter horse is the first United States native horse breed. Foundation american quarter horse stock resulted from Arab, Turk and Barb breeds. The breed evolved from the mix of bloodlines of horses brought to the New World.

Handicap Races

Races can be handicap or non-handicap races. In a handicap race the better horses are required to carry extra weight so that all horses have, in theory, an equal chance of winning. In a non-handicap race the better horses are not required to carry additional weight.

Tough there are other types of horse races, these are the most common and popular.