Horse Racing Moments

With the news last week about equine flu cases in Australia, I am sure that many horse racing enthusiasts felt pangs of anxiety.  Imagine those who have stakes on those horses and the upcoming races – how do they feel now?  Despite the ban that was meant to stop the spread of the flu before it became disastrous, the situation was not controlled enough.  This has resulted in the cancellation of the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.

I am sure that those who have heard of the news are in dismay over the turn of things.  However, think about the state of New South Wales which has to deal with an estimated $ 204.5 million loss.  According to the Thoroughbred Times “Major races affected are the Epsom Handicap (Aus-G1), Metropolitan Handicap (G1), and George Main Stakes (Aus-G1) and other group races that are pointers to either the Melbourne Spring Carnival or toward the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

Royal Randwick Racecourse remains in stringent lockdown, but horses may exercise under strict protocols. Approximately 700 horses are stabled at the racecourse course and another 1,000 in adjacent private stables.

Racing New South Wales said Friday it hopes that racing can resume at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1) day, November 6.”

At present, Australian horse owners and enthusiasts are finding ways to deal with the situation, including meetings wherein they can come up with solutions to support those who have been affected by this incident.

Meanwhile, in other parts of Australia, horse racing is being held intermittently.

A three-day ban has been implemented in major locations in Australia due to the outbreak of equine flu in Sydney.  Affected areas are New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.  The ban disallows the transport of horses in an effort to contain the highly contagious disease.

The equine flu is a respiratory illness that makes the horses tired.  It is rarely fatal but is highly contagious.  Humans are safe from the virus but can be carriers (through their clothing).  Though the case of equine flu is not that bad at the moment, Australian authorities are not taking any risks.  The breeding season for horses is coming up next month and too much is at stake.  Soon after the breeding season, horse racing activities are set to reach frenzied heights with the Spring Carnival, including the Melbourne Cup.

According to the Racing Board of Australia, if the flu spreads, the horse racing industry could be shut down for months.  This, of course, is something that they are not looking forward to and as such they are doing everything they possibly could to prevent any outbreak.  So far, the equine flu has been reported only in Japan, which Australian officials say may be the source of their own occurrences.  This is because Japanese stallions regularly come into the country during the breeding season.  Their horses also race during the Spring Carnival.

As of yet, there is no clear decision on what will happen in the next month or so.

As we have been talking about horse racing in the UK in the last few posts, I thought that you guys would be interested in this press release regarding the new authority in the British side of horse racing:

The British Horseracing Authority was formally launched yesterday [July 31] as the single, unified governing body for British Horseracing. Its role is to regulate, promote and represent the sport.

The Authority takes on the roles of the British Horseracing Board and the Horseracing Regulatory Authority, with both of those organisations ceasing to exist. Its inaugural Chairman is Paul Roy, with Nic Coward its first Chief Executive.

Alongside the Chairman and Chief Executive, the remainder of the eight-strong Board, which has a strong emphasis on independence and decision-making in the best interests of British Horseracing as a whole, is as follows:

• Toby Balding - Member Nominee Director
• John Bridgeman - Independent Regulatory Director
• Morag Gray - Independent Director
• Ben Gunn - Independent Regulatory Director
• Jim McGrath - Independent Director
• Ian Renton - Member Nominee Director

Other new additions to britishorseracing.com include downloadable Official Ratings – which are updated on a weekly basis by the Authority’s team of handicappers – detailed live non-runner and going reports and information covering the full range of the Authority’s activities.

British Horseracing Authority Chief Executive Nic Coward said: “The British Horseracing Authority is a fresh start, with the backing of all sectors of the industry. We are here to listen, and to take a lead, looking to achieve the best for British Horseracing in all that we do.

“We have an enthusiastic team in place and are building a clear picture of the opportunities and challenges ahead.”

The last post we had was a introductory course in British horse racing.  We ended with the types of enclosures that one can visit and what one would expect from each.  Whichever type of enclosure you go to, it is best that you buy a race card once you get to the race course.  You would only need to spend about 2 – 3 quid for one and it will give you most of the information that you would need throughout the day.  Now let’s talk about the two types of racing.

The first one is flat racing, which, as its name suggests, is carried out on a track where there are no obstacles - the track is flat.  You can watch flat racing anytime in the year although the main season runs from April to October.  The other type of racing is the National Hunt.  As opposed to flat racing, this type of race has jumps.  You can also watch this race all throughout the year but the main season runs from October to April.  Some race courses have both kinds of races while others feature a single type.

Now how about betting?  There are two main ways – with the bookmakers and with the Tote.  The former offers fixed-odds betting.  That is, you always know how much you will win in case your pick makes it.  The latter offers pool betting, wherein all the bets on a horse are put into a pool.  The winnings are then shared among the bettors.

Though most of the focus in horse racing has come to be placed in the United States, horse racing in Great Britain cannot be overlooked today.  It is still one popular activity over there for many people of all ages.  Today, there are around 59 racecourses all throughout Britain.  These racecourses vary widely to suit each and every taste and budget.

The numerous racecourses are broadly categorized into the following groups:

•    Members (also called Club or Premier) Enclosure
This is the high end option for going to the horse races.  Racecourses which fall under the Members Enclosure category often offer the best viewing and other facilities.  Though the name may be misleading, anyone can book a ticket for a Members course.  It’s just that the members of the course carry a badge that allow them more access.

•    Tattersalls (also called Grandstand or Paddock) Enclosure
The largest enclosure of the bunch.  You would expect this place to be crowded and buzzing with activity all throughout the day.  More than betting, you can find other activities such as eating and drinking and socializing.

•    Silver Ring (also called Course or Park) Enclosure
Known to be the least formal and least expensive of them all.  Perhaps one reason is that from this enclosure, you cannot see the Parade Ring or the Winners Enclosure.  Still, you get to see the horses on the racecourse and for many, that is all that they want.  You can also get food and drink in this enclosure but the trend is to bring along food for a picnic.

Let’s look at some more aspects of British horse racing in the next posts.

Italy is well known around the world for its numerous attractions.  However, there are some less known places and activities that would catch the attention of some people.  One of the lesser known places in this wonderful country is Sienna.  Located in about an hour from Florence, this medieval town has a lot to offer.

Imagine staying in a little town with ancient brick alleyways and medieval fortresses all around you.  It is the epitome of peace and quiet.  Cars are even banned from majority of the city.  You can just walk around and enjoy the scenery and not be bothered by motorists and the pollution that motored vehicles bring.

Yet as quiet as Sienna is, it has some piece of action to offer as well.  Horse racing enthusiasts will find it a delight to watch bare back horse races at Il Palio.  One should not miss these bare back horse races which are held at the Piazza del Campo.  Neighborhoods are all involved in the races and the action starts even before the races begin.  Different groups go around in the middle of the night, making a ruckus and challenging their neighbors.  During the race day itself, each neighborhood has a contestant that they will back with all their might.

It is indeed quite a different experience from horse racing as we know in the U.S. and other parts of the world today.  Yet real lovers of horses and the sport of horse racing will definitely appreciate the culture and the excitement that this kind of horse racing will bring.

The age of a race horse is very critical in determining the physical capabilities of the horse. As such, the type of race they are running would depend on their age as well. Race horses typically have the same birthday in the year. That is, two horses born on the same year but different months are considered to be of the same age. In the Northern Hemisphere, the birth date of a race horse is considered to be the 1st of January. In the Southern Hemisphere, the birth date of a race horse is designated as the 1st of August.

Horses that are meant for racing do not see action until they are at least 2 years old. As a matter of fact, at this age, horses are still considered to be immature. That is, they have not reached their potential yet and their physical capabilities have a stretch to improve as of yet. Therefore, horses which are 2 years of age are only raced for short distances. More so, horses at this age are only raced against each other. That is, they are not entered into races with horses of other ages. Despite the fact that 2 year old horses are considered to be at less than their full potential, there are some big horse races for their age group. Some of them are The Golden Slipper, the Dewhurst Stakes, the Breeder’s Juvenile and the Blue Diamond Stakes.

At the age of three, horses are still not considered to have reached their potential but they are now allowed to compete with horses beyond their age group. In order top run at some of the most popular horse races, a horse has to be at least 3 years old. The Derby, The Oaks, The Guineas and the St Leger are some of these classic races.

Male horses that are 3 years old and below are called colts while females are called fillies. If a male has been desexed it is called a gelding. When a horse turns four, he cannot enter the age restricted races anymore. Males are then called horses while females are called mares.

A horse can retire from racing anytime, especially if it has become injured. This can occur when a horse is at any age. Due to the physical rigors of racing, a horse cannot stay in the action for far too long.

It may come as a big surprise to find out that some men (and women), when asked about their favorite childhood memory, would fondly recall the family weekends they spent at the horse tracks. They can vividly remember almost everything in detail: from the color of the clothes they wore, the weather on that day, the taste of the ice cream they had while watching their horse race across the finish line, to the feeling of exhilaration when the horse they favored was declared the winner. Ever wondered why their memories are always so exact?

Memories are retained when an event that occurred is an extreme: extremely exciting, extremely happy, extremely sorrowful (though people would rather forget events that trigger extreme sorrow), and so on. This happens because, when a person is undergoing a particularly vivid experience, the brain releases a chemical: a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, which researchers believe is responsible for memory retention. This is what happens when a child is brought to the horse races. When the family goes to watch a horse race, a child experiences many things.

First, he is extremely happy to be with his whole family. Next, seeing real animals will always bring a thrill to children. Imagine a child seeing several horses at one time! That would be an extremely exciting experience for a young one. When the horses line up at the starting box and the race begins, a child, being sensitive to the changes that happens around him, may be caught up with the general furor felt by all the spectators. Imagine feeling all this at one time and imagine looking forward to experiencing all these wonderful emotions on every family outing. This is the reason why many men and women who grew up when going to the race track as a family was an accepted and frequently done activity, remember these events.

You and your family can recreate the joy you felt when you were younger. Going to the race track as a family may not be widely practiced nowadays, but what’s to stop you from starting your own tradition. Bring your family to the race track one weekend and relive the excitement you felt when you were a kid. Your children may feel a little uncomfortable at first but if you take the time to explain the concepts to them, they will gradually warm up and feel more relaxed in the place and will soon experience the one-of-a-kind excitement only a trip to the horse track can provide.

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There must be a reason why attending and betting on horse races have remained a popular past time and gambling activities all through these years, and it’s definitely not because of the money that a person, who manages to correctly predict the winner of a race (or two), stands to win. Horse racing is more than bets and wagers. It’s about a lot of other more intangible reasons.

Horse racing has become so popular because the venue itself serves as a meeting or a networking venue. There’s always something for everyone at the horse races. Friends can gather together at the track to bet on their favorite steed, to talk about the latest happening in their lives, or just to watch the horses. Inside the corporate boxes, businessmen can talk about mergers and acquisitions, business transactions, or just create a larger network of contacts. A day at the horse track is also ideal for family gatherings. What better way to bond with one another than an afternoon watching and rooting for your horse to win a race.

Other people watch horse races to admire the grace and beauty of these magnificent animals. And others gamble and watch horse races for the thrill a run gives. It’s exciting enough to watch marvelous horses race to the finish line. You get an inexplicable thrill just rooting and hoping for your favored horse to win. What more when you have, not just a jockey, but also a few dollars riding on that animal?

The thrill of horse races does not just happen when the animals rush across the finish line. The adrenalin rush starts the minute you step into the arena because you immediately feel the excitement and joy of all the attendees. Seeing the animals trot from the stables to the race track elicit a sense of awe and can make a person feel honored to be in the presence of these wonderful steeds. The fervor peaks when the horses are led to the starting box, and everyone watches with baited breath as they wait for the gun to signal the start of the race. As the horses thunder towards the finish line, you feel your heart beating just as fast as the hooves of these animals, and then just when the tension is about to subside, your heart pumps up again as the horses cross the finish line. No other sport can make you feel this way – and this is why people are addicted to horse racing. It’s not for the money – it’s for the thrill of it.

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