HorseRaceFANS!

 
This site is dedicated to providing fans new to horse racing a glossary of the most important terms one would come across when reading about racing, watching a broadcast of a race on television, or enjoying a day of racing at the track. Fans are given simple, easy-to-follow instructions on the mechanics of betting on horses, from simple bets to more complicated exotic bets like quinellas, trifectas, and boxes. The glossary also provides an insight into the history of the sport of thoroughbred racing. The Triple Crown is defined and the eleven winners are given. Overviews of the most historic and prestigious races like the Kentucky Derby and the Travers Stakes, their histories and highlights, are proferred in concise descriptions.  A list of current race events with the distance and history of the race is available to read. Common horse racing terms like "The Run for the Roses" and the function of bridles, reins, and bits are all explained.  

Racetracks List - San Antonio Handicap - Run at Santa Anita since the mid 1950s, this Grade II race is for thoroughbreds age three and older. Distance is a mile and an 8th on the Polytrack surface. Pacific Classic - Since 1993 this has been a Grade I event is far and away the most prestigious race held at Del Mar Racetrack. The purse for this race is rdaddphp million and features an automatic spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic for the winner. Open for thoroughbreds aged 3 and older. Kentucky Derby - Held at Churchill Downs annually on the first Saturday in May, this 3 year old race is the marquee event in all of thoroughbred racing. This mile and a quarter race is the first leg of the Triple Crown, which consists of the Kentucky Derby, The Preakness Stakes, and The Belmont Stakes. The distance of this race is almost always the farthest a thoroughbred has run up to that point, and the field by far the largest they will ever compete against. The Preakness - Held two weeks following the Kentucky Derby at Pimlico Racetrack, this race is the 2nd leg of the Triple Crown. Horses run a mile and 3/16th's, and high drama usually accompanies the Preakness because of the possibility of a Triple Crown if the Kentucky Derby winner prevails. Belmont Stakes - Run three weeks after the Preakness, The Belmont Stakes is the final, and toughest, leg of the Triple Crown. Run at a mile and a half, this race is the last remaining Grade I stakes race at that distance run in North America. In today's racing climate, the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders' Cup Classic are annually the biggest races, but a Belmont with a Triple Crown at stake is bigger than any other event in racing. Gulfstream Park Handicap - A Grade 2 race held in early March with a 0,000 purse, this race is open to horses 4 and older and run at a distance of a mile and 3/16th's. Santa Anita Handicap - Known as "The Big Cap" because when first run in the mid-1930s it's 0,000 purse was the largest ever offered, this mile and a quarter race is run in March and is open to thoroughbreds age 4 and older. Seabiscuit returned from injury in 1940 to win this race after being denied two previous times.

Common Injuries and Ailments of Race Horses - Despite their power and grace, race horses can be amazingly delicate creatures. Race horses are susceptible to injury because of the stress and strain of racing. While some ailments are minor, others can end careers and even lives. Trainers and jockeys keep a close eye on race horses, examining them daily for signs of injury. Common Injuries - In horse racing, race horses are prone to muscle and tendon strain. Generally, the discomfort is quite mild. Treatment involves rest, combined with heat or cold therapy. Over time, horses may also develop joint injuries. The cartilage in their joints breaks down, and arthritis in older horses is common. Sometimes, cracks develop in the hoof wall. The healing process is slow -- the horse must grow a new hoof from the top down. Equine vets and farriers (horseshoers) often patch the hoof to prevent the crack from spreading. Horses may also need special shoes to reduce the pressure around the injured area. Hoof abscesses are caused by a pocket of pus deep within the hoof. As the pressure builds, the race horse becomes very lame. Eventually, the pressure becomes so great that the pus is forced through the hoof wall or sole, making a gooey mess that provides instant relief to the horse. Often, the horse’s hoof is soaked in Epsom salts and warm water to draw the infection out. Poultices are also commonly used for the same reason. Bowed tendons most commonly affect the front legs, since horses carry most of their weight in the front. Stress and wear may cause these tendons to bulge outwards, looking like a curved bow when viewed from the side. The only cure is rest, with cold therapy to reduce the inflammation. Bowed tendons may become a chronic condition. For any horse, the most catastrophic accident is a broken leg. Horses are unable to lie down for long periods of time – the weight of their massive bodies crushes their internal organs. Unlike a dog, a horse cannot survive on three legs. The remaining legs are simply unable to take the additional strain. A broken leg is usually a death sentence.