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Thoroughbred horse racing is the main form of horse-racing
throughout the world. A trainer, who is hired by the thoroughbred horse's owner, would train the horses for a particular event (the horse trains on a local
training track near the stable) and also enter horses into races that would suit the horse. Trainers also have professional
relations with jockeys, who ride the horse and give feedback to the trainer after every
run.
- Handicap Race: One in which
the runners have been 'handicapped' according to their performance in other races and other factors such as age and gender. The
handicapping is done by changing the weight that the horse must carry on its back. Theoretically, all horses have a chance of
being competitive in a race that is correctly handicapped.
- Stakes Races are ones where
the competitors usually belong to the same gender, age and class. These races may be 'weight-for-age', with weights
adjusted only according to age, and also there are 'set weights' where all horses carry the same weight.
- Jumping Races and Steeplechases are done over long distances, and horses carry more weight. Normal
jumping races involve horses that are starting out a jumping career, including horses that previously were trained flat
racing.
Horses are judged on the weight (a horse carrying 52 kg is said to have better chances than one who carries 58 kg), the
barrier gate (horses have less
distance to make up if they start from an inside barrier, such as 1, rather than from an outside one, such as 15), the performance over the last three
starts, and also the performance on wet tracks, against horses of gender and class (weak or strong opposition). Time ratings and
jockey statistics are also factors in a horse's performance in a race, but they are considered less important.
While the attention of horseracing fans and the media is focused almost exclusively on the horse's performance on the
racetrack or for male horses or possibly its success as a sire, but little publicity is given the brood mares. Such is the case
of La Troienne, one of the most
important mares of the 20th century to whom many of the greatest thoroughbred champions, and dams of champions can be traced.
Some of the world's most famous thoroughbred racehorses in flat racing
include:
See also
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