Flat racing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Flat racing is a term commonly used in the United Kingdom to denote a form of horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance, the race is a test of speed, and stamina; and the skill of the jockey in determining by when he/she choses to hold the horse back or to make the horse horse work harder.
The flat races in the United Kingdom are run over a variety of distances from five furlongs (1006 m) to over two miles (3219 m) and are generally called sprints, middle distance or stayers races.
Racing takes place on a natural grass surface (turf) or on a synthetic surface (all-weather). Racing in Europe is generally on turf, while in the US, the more important races are on all-weather.
In Europe, the two most powerful "teams" are Coolmore Stud farm, most of whose horses are trained by Aidan O'Brien in County Tipperary in Ireland and owned by John Magnier and/or Michael Tabor, and the United Arab Emirates based Godolphin stables, owned by the Sheikh Mohammed and his brothers but based during the summer in Newmarket, England.
[edit] How it works
In the United Kingdom, (and the majority of Europe) flat racing is split into two distinctive bands, conditions races and handicaps.
- Conditions races are further split into
- Pattern races
- Group 1 - (Classics and other races of major international importance)
- Group 2 - (less important international races)
- Group 3 - (primarily domestic races)
- Listed races - have less prestige than the group races but are still more important than handicaps.
- Pattern races
- Handicap races - where the Jockey Club official handicapper gives horses a different weight to carry according to their ability, are the bread and butter daily races although some of these are also quite prestigious.
- The United Kingdom has five Classic races:
