Horse racing has a long history. It was practiced in ancient civilisations such as Greece and Rome, Babylon and Syria, and Egypt. Archeological evidence even points to ancient horse races. There is a mythical background to horse racing, too. You can find references to horse races in many myths and legends. In ancient Egypt, the god Khnum played an important role in the sport. In ancient Rome, horse races are mentioned in the Code of Hammurabi, a sacred text.
Type
The type of horse race you see at the track will depend on its age, gender, and trainer. Many races are for two-year-olds or older, and they are contested by both male and female horses. Some races are classified as “black type” and are intended to showcase horses that are in the best condition. These races can be difficult to win, but are also an excellent opportunity for people to see a great horse.
Length
How long is a horse race? A race is measured by its length, the furlong, in United States Customary Units (USCU). One furlong is two20 yards, or 660 feet. A furlong is roughly the same length as a mile, or about one-eighth mile. However, some races are over a mile long, which is measured in miles or a combination of miles and furlongs.
Distance
Depending on the track, the length of a horse race can be measured in a variety of ways. The traditional standard for horse races is 2.4 metres (8 feet) but some people use 2.7 metres, which is just over two meters shorter. Regardless of how the distance is measured, a horse’s result will always show the margin of victory (or loss) in lengths. The Daily Racing Form, which is used in Australia, was developed before my childhood.
Barriers
While the barrier positions are not always indicative of a horse’s chances of winning, they should be factored in your form analysis. Generally, you shouldn’t favor a horse that has an inside barrier over one that has an outside barrier. Similarly, you should avoid focusing on a horse’s barrier position if he’s a late closer. Here are a few guidelines to remember when analysing barrier positions.
Exacta (or perfecta)
An Exacta (or perfecta) horse racing bet involves placing bets on two or more horses to finish first and second in a race. Each combination is worth $2, and when one horse wins, the other finishes second, and so on, the total bet is $4. An exacta box increases the odds of winning a bet by exponentially increasing the number of horses chosen. Boxing exactas is a good strategy when you’re not sure which horses will win, but know who’s likely to place.
Probabilistic forecasting
You’ve probably seen polls during the horse race, but have you ever heard of probabilistic forecasting? It’s a new polling technique that aggregates polling data to give you a more accurate picture of the likely winner. The researchers involved in this study are Sean Jeremy Westwood, an associate professor of government at Dartmouth College, Solomon Messing, a senior engineering manager at Twitter, and Yphtach Lelkes, an associate professor of communication at the University of Pennsylvania. These new methods are proving to be popular in the political world.
Weasel words
A good way to tell if a horse is favored is by watching the coverage surrounding the race. Horse races are often dominated by horse-racing coverage, which destroys the credibility of the issue. Instead, weasel words create an impression of ambiguity and specific meaning. For example, “leading scientists agree” does not identify the researchers or their affiliation. This kind of coverage tends to distract voters from other issues, focusing on poll results.