Since the advent of legalized off track wagering, advanced deposit wagering, and race books, race track attendance has decreased dramatically.  Many people thought that offering the opportunity to wager on races and watch them from a distance would bring in more revenue and increase the fan base.  An unfortunate consequence was that many people who might have gone to a race track now go to an otb or sit in front of a computer and bet.

We’ll never know for sure if the modernization of horse racing was a good move or had negative consequences.  For those people who say it saved the sport and it would have been dead by now, I say, how do we know?  There are two kinds of people in this world, horse players and the rest.  Horse players will do just about anything to make a bet and see a race while the rest wouldn’t walk across the street to see a race.

You may talk about casual race goers and weekend warriors, but most of those people are still pretty passionate about going to the races and getting a bet down and they like their winners, too.  One of the problems with betting from afar is that you miss a big part of the experience and let’s face it, a day at the races is an experience and a chance to see a great show as well as to enjoy a live sport that involves both human and animal athletes.

It may be the greatest show on earth and yet, it is forgotten or ignored by many people, even some who like to bet on races.  That’s their loss because if they like to bet on winners, then a trip to the races and a chance to look over the runners.  A trip to the saddling ring or paddock is a chance to get close to the athletes and to look them over closely.

You’d be surprised how a little time spent studying horses can teach you a lot about handicapping and how to pick a winner.  Another good thing about sight handicapping, as it’s called, is that you can spot horses with a problem who may not run true to form.  There are several good videos on the subject and I suggest you watch one or two and then try your luck at spotting a good one.

Here a re a few clues, first of all, excessive sweating is a very bad sign.  If a horse is lathered before the race, pass that one by.  Also, watch the way horses walk and warm up.  There’s an old saying, “Walks like a sailor will be a trailer.”  That means a horse that shifts its weight from side to side while walking is trying to keep weight off a sore leg or hoof.  Once in a while they can warm up and the stiffness or soreness will go away, but many times, they run poorly.

At almost every horse track you’ll find low level claiming races with horses who run against each other every week or so.  One horse will win one week and then another will win the next.  This confuses a lot of the bettors, but here’s a tip.  If you watch those same horses every week, after a while, you’ll spot the one or two who are feeling good on a particular day.  You’ll notice the one on his or her toes, so to speak, the one holding his or her head high and you’ll have yourself a winner.  You won’t be able to tell those things by what you see on the program, but you’ll see it before the race if you’re at the track.

Take some time and go to your local race track and watch the horses. You’ll soon be picking winners on sight and get to know a few horses well enough to know when he or she is ready to run a big race and feeling on top of his or her game.

Throughout the world, horse racing is one of the most well loved and enjoyed sporting events. Horse racing has evolved over the years to include many exciting and different forms of the event. The following is a list of some of the various forms of horse racing:

Harness Horse Racing: This type consists of a horse fastened to a two-wheeled cart. A jockey is in the cart and controls the horse. Two types of this form are ‘Pacing’ and ‘Trotting.’ They differ according to the horse’s gait, or how the horse runs. With ‘trotting,’ the horse’s right front leg and left hind leg land on the track at the same time while they are running. In ‘Pacing,’ there are shorter pauses during a race and the horse travels at a much faster rate. As a horse begins to gallop, the jockey must slow it down in order to regain its pace. A popular sport in North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe, harness horse racing not only relies on quickness, but also tactics. The Standardbred horse is known for its excellent harness racing abilities. These horses are well-built, muscular, and have a calm disposition.

Thoroughbred Horse Racing: Thoroughbred is governed by different national horse racing organizations and involves the racing of thoroughbred horses. A popular sport with gamblers, there are two forms of this equestrian sport: ‘Flat Racing’ and ‘Jump Racing.’ Flat racing can be run at different distances. Horses competing in this form are very fast. Jump racing can be divided into ‘hurdling’ and ‘steeple chasing.’ The distances of the dashes can vary from 3/4 mile to more than two. Steeple chasing is a horse race that involves a variety of fence and ditch obstacles. In hurdling horses run over obstacles referred to as hurdles. The hurdles are usually over three and a half feet high in height.

Because speed is a major component, it involves high-quality horses and prestigious prizes. Horses competing in these events are usually the same age and gender.

Quarter-Horse Racing: This form received its name quarter-horse because the race originally ran a quarter of a mile. Horses run at a very fast pace for a short distance. It is one of the more recent equestrian events as its governing organization was not formed until the 1940s.

Stakes Horse Races: This type of race involves is governed by the Graded Stakes Committee. The term “stake” comes from the race entry fees. The fees make up the total amount of the prizes awarded. Prizes are given to the top three and sometimes four winners. There are three grades that include Grade 1, 2, and 3. Medium size and large tracks will have at least one grade 3 race. These events have the highest purse prizes. The Breeders’ Cup Classic prize is $5 million.

There are a number famous horse tracks in the US that include Keeneland Race Track in Lexington, Kentucky, Churchill Downs in Louisville, Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Saratoga Springs in New York, and the Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersy.

As one of the oldest racing sports, this fever has spread throughout the world. It is a thrilling event for horse racing fans of all ages.