The Essential Guide to Horse Racing

And They're Off! The Essential Guide To Horse Racing

More than just places for women to showcase outrageous hats and bookies to collect coin, horse races are steeped in tradition, and marry athleticism and animal husbandry.

Horse racing began in approximately 4500 B.C. when nomadic tribesmen in Central Asia began domesticating horses. Over the centuries, the sport was practiced by nobility and royalty, and today it remains popular because of its status as a hub of legalized gambling.

Many types of horses are raced, but the most popular races involve thoroughbred horses. In America, horse racing is the second most popular sport to attend, and professional horse racing exists across the globe.

History

Iowa State University'sHistory of Horse Racing - A detailed chronology of how horse racing started, its international roots, breeds and how modern-day races are conducted.

National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame - Located in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., the museum was incorporated in 1950 and honors horses, jockeys and trainers who make the sport thrive.

Famous Horses

Man O'War - Over 2,000 people attended Man O'War's funeral after the thoroughbred died of a heart attack. This stallion was responsible for siring several champion horses.

Smarty Jones - In 2004, Smarty Jones set a new record at the Preakness before he was defeated at the Belmont Stakes, ending a perfect race record.

Remembering Barbaro - Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro shattered his right leg during the Preakness, but held on to his life for eight months after vets performed a risky surgery on his hind leg. He was euthanized on Jan. 29, 2007.

Barbaro's Best Buddy, - Dr. Dean Richardson: The doctor who tried to save Barbaro's life is documented as well as Barbaro's attempts to recover.

Seabiscuit - The thoroughbred that inspired the major motion picture of the same name, climbed the horse racing ranks in 1938 and provided an escape to Americans still suffering from the Great Depression.

Selecting a Horse, Training and Horse Health

Breeds of Livestock, Thoroughbred - A primer on the history and breeding practices of thoroughbred race horses.

Horse Body Condition Scoring - In this illustrated guide, horse body types are outlined and the way a horse's girth affects its health is discussed.

Selecting a Riding Horse, University of Missouri: Tips for choosing a horse, including thoroughbreds, are given, and traits of a healthy horse are defined.

Selecting a Horse - University of Minnesota: The types of sport horses are compared and defined in this guide for picking the best horse for a rider's goals.

About Dressage - A basic outline of the dressage training technique, which aims to make the animal athletic, calm and attentive to his rider.

A Beginner's Guide toSelling Thoroughbred Horsesin a Public Auction Setting, University of Florida - For those selling a horse at auction, special practices unique to the horse trade are laid out.

New Technology Could Help Prevent Fractures in Horses - Taking a cue from seismology, researchers at Purdue University are developing methods to detect small cracks in horse bones.

Horse Genome Project - DNA from thoroughbreds is taken in an attempt to find out what genes could create winning horses.

Equine Herpes Virus Vaccine, Cornell University - Modified live vaccines are more effective for preventing equine herpes, a disease that caused race horse deaths in 2005.

Microchipping Thoroughbred Race Horses - Micro chipping horses, much like micro chipping other companion animals, makes it easier to identify them for genetic testing purposes, and at race tracks and other events.

Famous Jockeys

Willie Shoemaker - Shoemaker was only 4-feet, 11-inches tall, but made a giant impact on the horse racing sport, winning 11 Triple Crown races.

Eddie Arcaro - interview by Mike Wallace, in 1957, Arcaro was the biggest winning jockey in all of horse racing.

Famous Trainers

D. Wayne Lukas - One of the most respected trainers in the business, Lukas gives his take on management.

Todd Pletcher - In 2006, Pletcher earned over $27 million training horses, while other trainers topped out at $9 million.

Race Tracks

Derby Day - A history of the Kentucky Derby, the oldest sporting event in the United States. It is held yearly in May in Louisville.

History of the Belmont Stakes - Along with the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, Belmont Stakes is one of the races in the Triple Crown and takes place in Elmont, N.Y.

History of the Race Track - The origins of the horse track in Britain and France.

Banking Tracks in Thoroughbred Racing - A primer on the design and layout of race tracks that focuses on banking, which gives riders more leverage and allows horses to reach greater speeds.

Gambling

Horse Racing Data Server - A database that complies statistics on horses, riders and other racing factors in an attempt to predict winners.

Wagering on Race Horses - A Florida guide to the odds and wagering on horse races.

How to Win at the Track - An extensive discussion on the ways betting horses is different from other gambling, including definitions, odds and strategies.

Horse Racing Games - For the more cautious, board games can provide the fun of horse betting without the risk.

Additional Links

Equine Scholars Upcoming Events - A list of upcoming events in the equine world including both local gatherings and national announcements.

Careers in Horse Racing - A resource from Penn State that outlines what careers are available in the horse racing industry and well as resources for contacting tracks of interest for employment.

Equine Law Resources - Laws dealing with horses, riders, activities, owners and the industry are explained.

Racing Officials Accreditation Program - A program available for potential stewards, judges and officials established in 1991 to ensure uniform judging at races.