Thoroughbred Racing – The Triple Crown
Thoroughbred Racing The Triple Crown
Horse racing has been around for centuries and, although it's not as popular as it once was, it still has a loyal fan base across the world. The three most popular types of horse racing are: thoroughbred racing, harness racing and quarter horse racing.
Thoroughbred racing - the most popular of the three and what the majority of this article will be based on - involves a certain breed of horse known as a thoroughbred which has been bred and cross-bred for centuries to produce a fast, albeit fragile animal. Thoroughbreds can fetch millions of dollars as owners try to purchase potential racetrack superstars that they hope will earn them money on the racetrack as well as in the breeding shed once retired.
Harness racing involves a horse that pulls a buggy with a jockey seated inside. Harness racing is always slower than thoroughbred racing but can be just as exciting. Harness horses are expected to trot in a certain manner and stride and if they break that stride during a race, their jockey is required to pull them up until they get back onto stride.
Quarter horse racing is certainly the fastest of the three. Quarter horses are bred for nothing but speed as most races aren't longer than a "quarter-mile" and don't last much longer than twenty seconds. This makes quarter horse gambling difficult to handicap at times because it doesn't leave much time for jockeys to gain position and one mistake can cost a horse the race.
Getting back to thoroughbred racing - the most popular type around the world - we see that there are well over 50 racetracks in the United States alone! Thoroughbred racetracks can be found as far south as Chile and as far north as Canada. Precocious American thoroughbred horses generally begin their careers at the age of two. They usually begin racing late in the year if they are ready at this stage in their career.
/>At three, horses good enough and are nominated by their owners could be eligible to race in the Triple Crown - probably the most popular race series in the world. The Triple Crown begins with the Kentucky Derby, which is run at Churchill Downs in Kentucky. The race is run at 1 and 1/4 miles and is restricted to three year olds. Participants are generally male horses but a few female horses or fillies have participated and even won the Kentucky Derby.
If a horse wins the Kentucky Derby, the next leg of the triple crown is the Preakness which is run at Pimlico racetrack in Maryland two weeks after the Kentucky Derby. This race is run at 1 3/16 miles at a track generally more conducive to speedy horses.
The final leg is the most daunting - the Belmont Stakes which is run at historic Belmont Park, just outside of New York City. The Belmont Stakes is the longest of the three races at 1 and 1/2 miles and usually takes place three weeks after the Preakness Stakes.
While over a dozen horses have won the triple crown in history, no race horse has won all three races since Seattle Slew in 1977. Several horses have come close - winning the first two legs before succumbing in the final leg. A horse named "Real Quiet" came closest in recent memory, missing out by a nose to his rival "Victory Gallop" in 1997. This year, a horse by the name of "Uncle Mo" is the early favorite to win the Kentucky Derby but only time will tell whether he has what it takes to join the pantheon of equine legends. Lapland snowmobile trips in April Watch American Idol Season 10 Episode 18 Fresh News Turks and Caicos - Island Tourism Get Ready For Your Beach Looks With Well-Toned Abs Join the Celebrity Craze: The Brazilian Blow Dry Stroke'D Out in Vegas. The Strokes Play First Show of 'Angles' Tour In our Times, There Used to be a First Class Travel as Well! The world of holiday packages Top Places to Visit in Africa Mexico Rentals to Benefit from Creative Approach to Tourism Alaska Guided Fishing – Things You Must Ask Before Choosing A Guided Fishing Trip Make Your Dream Come True with India Travel Packages Accommodation in Cannes Makes Your Trip a Rejuvenating One