Types of Races

Fortunately for race enthusiasts, there are plenty of different types of horse races to choose from and enjoy. You may find that you prefer the thrill of shorter races based on the speed of sprinters, such as Quarter Horses. If you crave suspense, Thoroughbred racing lasts longer but still packs a big punch of speed coupled with the wonder of endurance. Other viewers find harness racing entertaining. This section provides an overview of the different types of professional horse racing and will help you decide what kind of race to attend.

Quarter Horses have long been America’s favorite sport horse. Known for their kind temperament, reliability, agility, and speed, they’ve proven themselves out on the range, inside the show ring, and across the track. The Quarter Horse is bred carefully to maintain its short, compact body and powerful hindquarters. In the beginning, they were specifically bred for an intense spurt of speed over a quarter mile distance. Today, Quarter Horses sprint the quarter mile and draw crowds from all over the United States.

Thoroughbred racers compete over a longer distance than Quarter Horses, usually around a mile or longer. Equestrians around the world favor Thoroughbreds for their sensitivity, athleticism, intelligence, and of course, breathtaking speed and endurance. Thoroughbred racing is the most popular form of professional horse racing in the United States and continues to draw huge audiences year after year. If you are looking for a longer race with more suspense and big-time speed, consider attending a Thoroughbred race.

Harness racing is the last option discussed in this section and possibly the most fascinating. Harness racers are primarily Standardbred horses. Standardbreds closely resemble Thoroughbreds, although they are a bit smaller and slightly longer. These horses can race in two different kinds of competitions consisting of either trotters or pacers. In both types of races, each horse is harnessed to a sulky which carriers a driver that maneuvers the horse on the track. Trotters move their legs in a classic two beat rhythm in which the legs move diagonally (left hind leg moves forward with right front leg and right hind leg moves forward with the left front leg). Pacers are considered much faster than trotters since their gait is propelled by moving each side separately (the left front leg moves forward with the left hind leg as the right front leg moves back with the right hind leg). This gait is flawlessly smooth and amazingly fast, providing a surprising burst of speed and a great race to watch.

After you’ve decided what type of race you’d like to attend, consider exploring some of the best tracks in the country in the next section which outlines racetrack destinations.