Flat racing

Flat racing

Flat racing is a term commonly used to denote a form of horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing over hurdles. The race is a test of speed, stamina and the skill of the jockey in determining by when he/she choses to hold the horse back or to make the horse work harder.

The flat races in Great Britain are run over a variety of distances from five furlongs (1006 m) to over two miles (3219 m) and are generally called sprints, middle distance or stayers races.

Racing takes place on a natural grass surface (turf) or on a synthetic surface (all-weather). Racing in Europe is generally on turf, while in the United States and Canada, the more important races are on dirt or all-weather. Indeed, nearly all North American races are flat races, as steeplechase racing is very infrequent and largely confined to short, specialized race meets. There, the term "flat racing" is rarely used, as the form is so predominant.

In Europe, the two most powerful "teams" are Coolmore Stud farm, most of whose horses are trained by Aidan O'Brien in County Tipperary in Ireland and owned by John Magnier and/or Michael Tabor, and the United Arab Emirates based Godolphin stables, owned by the Sheikh Mohammed and his brothers but based during the summer in Newmarket, England.

Flat racing in Great Britain

In Great Britain, (and the majority of Europe) flat racing is split into two distinctive bands, conditions races and handicaps.
*Conditions races are further split into
**"Pattern races"
***Group 1 - (Classics and other races of major international importance)
***Group 2 - (less important international races)
***Group 3 - (primarily domestic races)
**"Listed races" - have less prestige than the group races but are still more important than handicaps.
*Handicap races - where the Jockey Club official handicapper gives horses a different weight to carry according to their ability, are the bread and butter daily races although some of these are also quite prestigious.

Classic Races - In British horse racing, The Classics are a series of horse races run over the flat (i.e. without jumps). Each classic is run once each year and is restricted to horses that are three years old. There are five Classic races:
*2,000 Guineas Stakes
*1,000 Guineas Stakes
*Epsom Oaks
*Epsom Derby
*St. Leger Stakes

See also

*List of British flat horse races
*List of French flat horse races
*List of Irish flat horse races
*List of horse races


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • flat racing — flat .racing n [U] BrE horse racing without any fences on flat ground →↑steeplechase …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • flat racing — noun : the sport of riding in flat races * * * flat racing noun • • • Main Entry: ↑flat * * * flat racing UK US noun [uncountable] horse racing on flat ground with no fences or jumping Thesaurus: horse racing and other horse riding competiti …   Useful english dictionary

  • flat racing — N UNCOUNT Flat racing is horse racing which does not involve jumping over fences …   English dictionary

  • flat racing — ➡ racing * * * …   Universalium

  • flat racing — noun (U) horse racing without any fences on flat ground compare steeplechase (1) …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • flat racing — UK / US noun [uncountable] horse racing on flat ground with no fences or jumping …   English dictionary

  • flat racing — noun see flat race …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • flat racing — /ˈflæt reɪsɪŋ/ (say flat raysing) noun horseracing on courses without jumps …  

  • British flat racing Champion Owner — The Champion Owner of flat racing in Great Britain is the owner whose horses have won the most prizemoney during a season. The list below shows the Champion Owner for each year since 1894. * 1894 Harry L. B. McCalmont * 1895 Leopold de Rothschild …   Wikipedia

  • British flat racing Champion Jockey — The Champion Jockey of flat racing in Great Britain is the jockey who has ridden the most winning horses during a season. The list below shows the Champion Jockey and the number of winners for each year since 1840. * 1840 Nat Flatman 50 * 1841… …   Wikipedia

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