Horse Racing Tips On The Categories Of Races

Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history dating back to ancient Babylon, Egypt, and Syria. There are different styles on racing, and the distances and the categories of events differ in every country where the race is happening. Many countries provide various categories of races. A lot of people who are new to horse racing are only aware of the major races such as the Kentucky Derby or the Breeder's cup. But before a horse can reach that level, he or she should start at the lowest level of the competition of horse racing. Of course, horse racing tips such as having a well bred or properly trained horse can help you from the very beginning of your horse racing journey.
A horse that has yet to win is referred to as maiden. The top rated races for maiden horses are called Maiden Special Weight Races. These are for the horses of top quality that are likely to win and proceed to the races for winners. Every horse has a price and can be purchased or "claimed" from a race for a price. Anyone who wants to claim a particular horse should make the request prior to the race, and can claim the horse as soon as the race is finished no matter what happens to the horse during the race. This type of race is known as Claiming Races.

The next category after the Claiming Races is the Allowance Race. In this category the horses are not for sale and the purse levels are usually higher. This category got its name due to the fact that conditions have already been set prior to the race, and weights to carry with weight allowed off for reaching other conditions. Stakes Races are where the top horses compete against each other. This type of race has the highest purses, but the amount can vary from a small track to a major track. It also has the highest stature when winning. You can find the best local horses in the local stakes, while top horses from the local trainers and horses shipped in from other locations can be found in the graded stakes. Restricted stakes have limitations or restrictions such as the horse has to be bred in the local state or has raced at the local track. The top level for the stakes races is known as the Graded Stakes. These have no restrictions except for the age or sex of the horse.

It never hurts to familiarize oneself with the types of categories of horse racing. Tips on taking care of your horse properly can also help you in winning a race. Be aware of the risks in horse racing for both the horse and the jockey. See to it that your horse is healthy and well prior to a race to avoid any accidents.

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