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Days in Horse Country – Flat Racing
It’s what Thoroughbreds do best: flat racing. Flat racing is a form of horseracing that takes place on a flat track. The track can be a dirt track or turf (grass track). The horses break from a starting gate. In Thoroughbred racing, they usually run anywhere from three furlongs (3/8 mile or 603 m) to more than 2 miles (3.2 km), depending on the country’s standards.
Other breed also participate in flat racing. Quarter Horses, which are sprinters, run at ¾ mile (1.2 km) or less. So do Paint Horses and Appaloosas. Arabians flat race from three furlongs (3/8 mile or 603 m) to 1 ¾ miles (2.8 km).
Wagering is popular with flat racing, particularly Thoroughbred racing. People who bet on flat racing practice handicapping, which is the art of predicting which horse will win based on a variety of factors. The term “handicapped” is used in another context as well. Horses are literally “handicapped” in certain races which means they are saddled with extra weight to level the field. This may vary based on performance and age.
Thoroughbred racehorse begin their careers at the tender age of two, and they rarely race beyond the age of five. Controversy rages over whether these horses are started too young, before their bones have a chance to fully develop. The death of the champion Thoroughbred Barbaro in 2008 led to tan outcry to reconsider the starting age of racing Thoroughbreds.
Michael