The classic age for horses to start racing is three years old. However, there are notable exceptions to this rule. Many racehorses reach their peak performance at around five years old. Therefore, it is unusual to see a horse over four years old in a horse race. The following is a list of notable races where older horses can compete.
Ikh Hurd race
The Ikh Hurd horse race is one of the most important sporting events in Mongolia. This race is quite different from horse races in the U.S. It attracts top Mongolian horses from all over the country. The winner of this race earns twice the money of the winner of the Naadam Festival. The festival is one of the most popular national holidays in Mongolia.
Triple Crown
The Triple Crown is a series of three-year-old Thoroughbred horse races. It includes the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. The Triple Crown is a must-watch event for horse racing fans around the world.
Breeders Cup
Breeders Cup is a horse race held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., but in the past, the race has also been run at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif., Aqueduct in New York, Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., and Woodbine in Toronto. The World Championships for Thoroughbred horses are held the first Saturday in November. During the 22-year history of the Breeders Cup, the race has been held at many other race tracks. While the event is renowned for its big money, it is also known for producing some great horses.
Endurance races
Endurance horse races are an extremely tough and difficult test of the horse’s endurance. The race may be hours or days long, and involves riding through mountain ranges and deserts. In 2005, the International Federation of Equestrian Sports reported that 350 endurance horse races took place worldwide, up 18 percent from 1995. This year’s World Endurance Championship featured 130-mile races in Germany, Netherlands, and Belgium.
Class system
Many horse players struggle with interpreting the class system for horse races. Class levels vary widely from track to track and you need to know which level a horse is in before placing your bets. To determine the class level of a horse you need to look at its last race results. Horses that finish well in their last race usually represent a high class level.
Fences
Horse race fences are an important aspect of horse racing. While they have remained largely the same for many years, the construction of these structures has changed significantly. They are no longer made of natural thorn hedges but rather a composite of wood and plastic. This material has the advantage of being both flexible and strong. Aintree Racecourse fences are a prime example of this.