The thrill of watching a horse race is one of the most exciting pastimes on the planet. There are many ways to bet on the winners. You can watch Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds compete in a Graded stakes race, or you can watch Harness races. If you have a connection to a horse, you can sit in the Millionaires Row. If you don’t have one, you can still get a good view of the horses while standing in the infield.
Standardbreds
A standardbred horse is one of the most popular breeds in the world. They’re a medium-sized, sturdy horse that’s plain and sturdy in appearance, and they excel both on and off the racetrack. These horses are typically 14.2 to 17.2 hands tall and weigh between 900 and 1200 pounds. Standardbreds have beautiful, long-muscled bodies, and their coats are typically bay, brown, or black. They also have large, durable hooves.
Thoroughbreds
The history of Thoroughbreds in horse races dates back to the late 1600s. The horse is descended from three famous stallions: Byerly Turk, Godolphin Arabian, and Darley Arabian. These three stallion lines eventually created the foundational Thoroughbreds that we know today. The horses were bred to native sprinting mares in England and eventually developed into the Thoroughbred.
Harness races
Harness racing is an ancient sport in which horses are raced by the rider in a two-wheeled cart called a sulky. Initially, harness racing was primarily for farmers to showcase their best stock. However, interest grew over time and eventually became a competitive sport. Now, harness races are held all over the world. Here is a look at some of the biggest events held in the sport.
Graded stakes races
In the United States and Canada, thoroughbred horse races are categorized according to their grade. This classification is determined by a committee known as the American Graded Stakes Committee. Each race is ranked based on how well it is run, the number of runners, and the amount of prize money. There are also Grade I Stakes (the highest class in the US) and Group races (races that are open to horses of a particular gender, age, or class).
Exacta wheel
If you’ve ever placed a bet on a horse race, you’ve probably heard about the Exacta wheel. In a wheel bet, you pick one horse to win and bet on the other six that finish second or third. Then you wait for the exacta to turn, hoping that one of them runs first or second. Of course, that’s not always the case. In some races, the logical contenders are more likely to fill out an exacta, meaning their bets will produce a lower payout than the long shot.