If you are in the US at this time, you may have been swept up by the fervor of the 3 most popular races in the horse world, the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes (collectively known as the Triple Crown). But what is a racehorse? And, should YOU want to write your own rags-to-riches horse racing story, what should you absolutely know?
I am here to help.
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Medieval Edition, Color Edition, and Draft Horses now out!
Lets clear a couple of things up first. A racehorse is any horse that runs in a race. There are so many type of races around the world that I do not nearly have time for them here. The horse breed people tend to think of as Racehorses is generally the Thoroughbred.
The Thoroughbred
^Famous Picture of Secretariat winning the Belmont, colorized
Tall, long-legged, and famous, the thoroughbred was first created in England through the introduction of three Arabian* stallions to the native racing mare breed stock. They then spread around the world along with the spread of flat distance racing. Thoroughbreds also compete and excel in steeplechase races, and many are fantastic athletes outside of horse racing. The Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont are all registered Thoroughbred races. To register a horse as Thoroughbred with the Jockey Club, the US overseeing organization, the parents must be registered as thoroughbred either in the Jockey Club or in an international racing organization, and the foal must be the product of a natural mating (meaning no Artificial Insemination, embryo transfers, ect.). All Thoroughbred foals in the Northern Hemisphere turn 1 year old on the 1st of January after they are born, and all Southern Hemisphere foals turn 1 on the 1st of August. Yes, even if they are born the day before. Too bad. They're one now.
^Painting of the racehorse Eclipse, by George Stubbs, in the 1700's. The English and early Americans LOVED their racehorses.
Racing Thoroughbreds often begin racing at 2 years old, with many of the greatest races held at 3. All Triple Crown races are 3 year old races, hence the term Derby, meaning a race for 3 year old colts. 3 Year old fillies run the Oaks. Many horses at the top levels are not raced past their early years, being retired young to preserve fitness for breeding (where the real money lies). Other horses at less high level of racing may continue into their teenage years. A horse that has raced (started) 50 or more times is referred to as a war horse. Races are of different distances, often from 5/8th of a mile sprinter races, to longer races at 1 1/2 of a mile. That is the challenge of the Triple Crown, is that a horse must win against the toughest competitors, back to back races at different lengths. A horse that can complete this is the best runner of its generation, smart, adjustable, and sturdy.
Thoroughbreds also compete in National Hunt racing, which includes steeplechasing, hurdling, and 'bumpers', thought they may also compete alongside other breeds. These are races conducted over jump obstacles, and are notably more popular in Europe, particularly England, Ireland, and France.
^Steeplechase, the insane man's horserace.
Some other useful terms: Blue hen - a mare that produces high quality offspring with a big impact on the sport, Break a maiden - when a horse wins for the first time, Breeze - a training workout, Closer - a horse that comes from behind and charges to the front, Field - the horses entered in a race, Pacesetter - the frontrunner or horse that likes to run at the front of the field, Length - the length of a horse about 8 feet or 2.4 m, Silks or Colors - the color of the saddle pad and the Jockey's uniform for easier visual tracking, Stalker - a horse that likes to run just behind the leader, Stayer - a horse that performs best at longer distance.
^"Blue Hen" Toussaud, known for producing 3 Grade 1 Stakes winners. She is also the grandmother of my own horse, by Empire Maker, and the great grandmother of Triple Crown winner American Pharaoh.
*Called Arabian, the actual heritage is somewhat questionable. Ask for more information
Quarter Horses
^ A lot of Thoroughbred blood is mixed into the racing QH lines...they look practically indistinguishable sometimes.
An American invention, the racing Quarter Horse is the fastest horse at a sprint, thought they are not distance runners. These horses excel at races of 1/4 of a mile, hence the name Quarter(1/4th) Horse. The Quarter Horse originated from Thoroughbred stock, crossed with Spanish mustangs, Nez Pierce horses, Paints, and other Native created breeds. The greatest characteristic of a Quarter Horse is the large, muscular hindquarters.
^Dat Badonakadonk
Much like the Thoroughbred, Quarter Horses excel in many other careers, and the majority are not bred for the racing industry, but rather roping, ranch work, barrel racing, pleasure, or trail riding. The racing Quarter Horse tends to have longer legs and stand taller than the types designed for other work, though they are thicker throughout than pure thoroughbreds. Also like Thoroughbreds, they start racing young, with races starting at 2 years. One major difference between TB and QH races is that Thoroughbred times start once a horse passes a post after the gate. Quarter Horse times start when the gate opens. Horses must go top speed from the start to win.
Endurance races
^ A junior rider competing in the Tevis Cup over the Sierra Nevadas.
The other races on this post are what you might consider traditional races, with a racetrack and spectators and starting gates. Endurance races, however, are a true test of horse and rider in the wild. Riders and horses compete to ride 50 to 100 miles (shorter for beginner riders) in 24 hours, with the requirement to pass vet checks periodically. The winning horse and rider must pass the finish line first in suitable condition to win. The most famous of these is the notable Tevis Cup - which covers 100 miles of rough backcountry through the Sierra Nevada mountain range in under 24 hours. Horses climb mountains, ford rivers, navigate through forests and over meadows. Any horse in proper condition can enter, but the horses are checked by vets before being allowed to participate, and must continue to pass checks throughout the race. Many competitors consider a finish, a win, due to the difficulty.
Endurance races are held around the world, including North America, Europe, the Arabian Peninsula, and Asia. Around the world, the Arabian horse tends to dominate due to their natural stamina and heat adaptations. A variant of the race is the Mongol Derby, based on the historical mail system set up by Genghis Khan, which requires riders to cover 620 miles, changing horses every 20 miles.
^Michael Pollard winning the Mongol Derby on a semi-feral horse
Harness Racing
^Harness horses either trot, or pace, as this one is. The pace is a trot-like gait which both legs on a side move in sync, rather than with a diagonal pair. See my Post 1 for more information on the trot.
Harness racing involves a horse and cart, or sulky, with the driver seated in the cart. Some trot or pace races can be held with riders, but its not harness racing then, is it? In North America, we have the Standardbred, a horse named for its ability to go a mile distance in under 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Across the pond, Europeans race all sorts of breeds known for their trotting abilities. Many American Standardbreds trace ancestry to these breeds, notably the Norfolk Trotter, through the great racer and sire Hamiltonian 10.
^Yes, he really looked like that, no its not a swayback. Everyone that met him noted his butt was higher than his shoulders his whole life, and it may have contributed to his success.
In the US, horses start at speed behind a motorized gate driven by a truck. THe gate lifts, the truck leaves, and the race starts. In Europe, there is also a circular starting system, which I have tried and failed to understand several times. Have this video, which is in French, and which shows the starting practice at the start.
Trotting races also begin from a standstill, though this is known for having horses frequently break to a canter, causing a false start and forcing the race to restart.
Trotting races are most popular in mainland Europe, while the Americas, Japan, China, and the British Isles seem to prefer gallop races. The Arabian peninsula is also home to many great international gallop races.
The Problems
Horse racing in any form is ripe for abuse, welfare concerns, and cheating. Professional racing tends to start horses young, with race training beginning by 2 years of age, well before the age of maturity in any horse. Horses are pushed to speed in stressful circumstances with minimal training, potentially inducing injury or breakdowns, and even physically sound horses need extensive retraining once retired to other careers. Inbreeding is rife, with many thoroughbreds in particular showing repeated great-grandparents or further ancestors. Racing is physically strenuous, with some horses bursting blood vessels, breaking leg bones, and chipping bones from the stress.
The money involved is often enormous, and connections to horses are not always opposed to doping, or using drugs to reduce anxiety, pain, or improve performance. Many horses do not succeed as racehorses, and are therefore in need of other homes and training. Some end up heading to slaughter for a lack of other options. There are many issues, far more than can be detailed here, but the core of the issues come down with a lack of concern for the long-term well-being of the horse, and the short term love of winning. At the same time, retraining and re-homing programs are set up and supported by many people in the racing industry who truly want the best for their horses.
^Cozmic One, the son of famous racehorse Zenyatta, never succeeded on the racetrack. He found his stride as a show horse and ambassador for the Retired Racehorse Project.
That is all for now. As always, ask questions in replies or send me an ask for any horse related thoughts.
An equine portrait of an old thoroughbred mare painted with watercolour and gouache. I used an orange and a regular pencil for the sketch. Finished up some details with a fineliner.
