Horse racing has entranced spectators for centuries, from the Greek Olympic Games to the modern-day Kentucky Derby and Melbourne Cup. While racegoers dress up and sip mint juleps, horses are forced to sprint—often under the threat of whips and illegal electric-shock devices—at speeds so fast that they can bleed from their lungs or collapse and die. Behind the romanticized facade of Thoroughbred horse races lies a world of injury, drug abuse, and gruesome breakdowns.
A day at the races can be an exciting and educational experience, but it’s also important to understand how to read a racecard. The silks are the colours that denote each jockey’s owner and are a good starting point. Then there’s the horse’s age and the weight it is set to carry in the race. The weight will vary if the race is a handicap, where horses are weighted according to their past performances. Then there’s the track conditions, which will have a big impact on how fast the horse runs. Muddy tracks will slow down the horses, while dry and hard surfaces are the best for speed.
The next thing to look at is the horse’s form, which is a record of how well it has run in previous races. This will help you work out whether it is capable of winning the race, although remember that the form will be different if the horse is suited to distances or ground conditions that are not typical of the track in question.
Once you’ve worked out the form, it’s a good idea to pay attention to the betting odds. The higher the odds, the more likely a horse is to win. You should also check the Racing Post Ratings, which are found to the left of the odds. These are the views of Racing Post experts and can give you a better idea of what to expect from a horse’s performance.
As you watch the horses in action, take note of their head positioning as they cross the finish line. The horse whose nose crosses first is the winner. In addition, pay close attention to the horses’ strides — how long they are and how much they stretch between each step. You’ll notice that some horses have a shorter stride than others.
In recent years, horse racing has benefitted from technological advances that have made it safer for both the horses and the humans in attendance. While the sport has retained many of its rules and traditions, thermal imaging cameras can spot overheating horses, MRI scanners and X-rays can detect injuries before they become more serious, and 3D printing can produce casts, splints and prosthetics for injured or ailing animals.