What Type Of Horses Are Race Horses
- What Types Of Horses Are Race Horses
- Race Horse Names
- What Kind Of Horses Are Race Horses
- What Breed Are Race Horses
Explaining Group, classified, selling stakes, handicap races
Horse races in Britain are split 50/50 between Handicap races and Stakes races. Races are then split further into maiden races, claiming and selling races etc. The following table explains the different types of horse races in Britain. Read more ...
Types of Horse Races
Different breeds of horses have developed that excel in each of the specific disciplines. Breeds that are used for flat racing include the Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, Arabian, Paint, and Appaloosa. Jump racing breeds include the Thoroughbred and AQPS. Flat Racing The most popular type of horse racing by far is flat racing. These types of races typically deal with Thoroughbred horses, and are run on a flat, leveled surface.
What Types Of Horses Are Race Horses
| Race Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Group | Group 1, 2 and 3. The highest class of race. |
| Listed | Just below group class. |
| Rated Stakes | Valuable handicaps with a 10 to 14lb weight range. |
| Conditions Stakes | Races for horses below class A. |
| Classified Stakes | Races with a max rating for horses that have run at least 3 times, or run twice and won at least once. |
| Handicap | Races where the weight a horse has to carry is determined by the official handicapper. The better the horse, the higher its handicap rating. Horse can only run in races where the max rating is higher or equal to its rating. |
| Nursery | Handicap for 2yo horses only. |
| Maiden Handicap | For 3yo+ maidens with a max rating of 70 that have run at least 4 times. |
| Maiden | For horses that have never won. |
| Rated Maiden | Maiden races with a max rating for horses that have run at least 3 times. |
| Novice | For 2yos that have not won more than twice. |
| Auction Maiden | For 2yos originally sold by auction at specified sales. |
| Median Auction Maiden | For 2yos by stallions that established a median price for their yearlings at specified sales. |
| Selling | For low class horses. The winners are offered for auction. Any other runner can be claimed too. |
| Claiming | Each horse is allocated a weight according to the claiming price determined by the connections. The lower the weight, the lower the claiming price. Any horse can be claimed after the race. |
| Apprentice | Races for apprentice jockeys only. |
| Amateur | Amateurs jockeys only. Heavy weights. |
| Lady | Female amateurs and female apprentices. |
| Gentlemen | Male amateurs only. |
Race Classification
At the start of the 2005 Flat Turf season the BHB introduced a new classification system for races.
The old letter Group 1,2,3 A-H classification has changed to a new 1-7 number system. Not only does the new number system throw away years of tradition, but it also causes confusion with systems, stats and the form book.
The letter classification had 11 distinct levels of class whilst the number classification has just 7. The number classification makes it less likely that a system based on class changes will find contenders. The number classification also makes it harder for form punters to find horses changing in class!
Race Horse Names
e.g. A horse dropping from a Group 1 race to a Listed Stakes race would have dropped 4 classes with the letter classification method but is not dropping in class with the number classification method. A horse rising from a Class G selling race to a Class F handicap would have risen 1 class with the letter classification but is not rising in class with the number classification.
The FlatStats website will continue to use the old letter method as well as the new number method.
What Kind Of Horses Are Race Horses
Apprentices
Apprentices are allowed to claim a weight allowance because of their inexperience. They can claim 7lbs until they have won 20 races, 5lbs until 50 races, and 3lbs until 95 races. Weight allowances can be claimed in all race types except listed and group races.
In some apprentice only races those apprentices that have never won a race can claim 10lbs. In some special races apprentices are allowed to claim a further 3lbs if they are riding for their retained yard.