There’s More Than One UK Horse Racing System
So you think you know all about the UK horse racing system. You can probably place sound bets. You probably even know all about the horses and the jockeys. But what do you really know about the races? Maybe you didn’t know this, but it’s a lot more than a herd of horses running around a track, trying to get to the finish line first. There are actually 3 main types of race: the flat race, jump race, and all-weather race - all of which are very much different from each other.
The Flat Race
As the name suggests, it’s a race run over a flat course, usually a long stretch of grass with no fences, ditches, or jumps. This is the most popular type of horse race there is and usually takes place from the summer all the way to autumn. Flat racing courses are generally shorter than the jump racing courses, an example of which is the course at Epsom.
The Jump Race
This type of race is more commonly known as the National Hunt. Again, as the name suggests, it’s a race run with jumps over obstacles such as fences, water jumps, and ditches. It often takes place from winter through spring, sometimes longer. The Jump Race has 2 varieties: the Hurdle and Steeplechase.
The Hurdle is run with a distance between 2 to 3 miles. Jumps or obstacles are at least 3.5 feet high. Horses can only take part in the Hurdle from July 1 of the year of their third birthday. Some famous Hurdle events include the Stan James at Newbury and the famed Cheltenham Festival.
Steeplecases have larger jumps than the Hurdle and run between 2 to 4 miles. Jumps are at least 4.5 feet high and don’t easily collapse, unlike the Hurdle’s. These races require more experienced horses and they can only take part from July 1 of their fourth birthday’s year. One famous Steeplechase race is the Grand National in Aintree.
The All-weather Race
The all-weather race is designed to run in - you guessed it! - all kinds of weather. These is a relatively new type of racing in England and is designed to run throughout the year on racing stadiums build with all-weather artificial ground. Though this currently runs only during the weather, it’s gradually being introduced as a regular feature in British racing all-year round.
Yes, horse racing isn’t just all about the horses and jockeys. It’s all about the events, as well. A knowledge of most, if not all, will give you the confidence to wager in several races instead of just sticking to one, increasing your chances of winning. It’s a quick education in horse racing like no other.