Horse racing
Horse racing is the sport of racing horses at speed, run on the flat or over jumps, and one of the oldest organised equestrian sports.
At a glance
| Codes | Flat racing on the level, and jump (National Hunt) racing over hurdles and fences. |
|---|---|
| Distances | From sprints of about five furlongs to staying flat races and long jump races. |
| The horses | Predominantly the Thoroughbred, a breed developed for speed and stamina. |
| Regulation | Run under strict rules of racing and veterinary oversight in each country. |
Flat racing tests pure speed and stamina over a level course, from short sprints to staying distances. Jump racing, also called National Hunt racing, adds hurdles or larger fences that the horses clear at racing pace over longer trips.
The Thoroughbred dominates both codes, a breed refined over centuries for the combination of speed and endurance that racing rewards. The sport underpins much of the breeding industry that supplies sport horses more widely.
Sources: Federation Equestrian International (FEI) ยท British Equestrian