In the saddle! Everything you need to know about horse racing

Have you always secretly admired horse racing, or are you tempted to put some money on the horses? If so, here is everything you need to know about horse racing!

First of all, the races are organized by categories of jockeys, whether age, gender or level.

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As in athletics, horse races take place over several distances, which generally range from 1,000 to 3,000 meters.

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In addition to gallop races, there are also steeplechases and hurdle races (with small obstacles), as well as steeple chases (with larger and varied obstacles) and cross-country races (very hilly courses). .

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France alone has 235 racecourses where horse races are held. The most famous are those of Auteuil (in the photo) and Longchamp, in Paris, as well as Deauville and Chantilly. Elsewhere famous race courses include Epsom Downs Racecourse, Churchill Downs, and Saratoga Race Course.

The horses participating in galloping races are almost all thoroughbreds. A breed developed since the 17th century from European and Arab horses through selective breeding.

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The trainers to whom the owners entrust their horses have a fundamental role, they are responsible for training them, feeding them, and above all preparing them for the races!

During races, horses are ridden by jockeys, who are like racing drivers available on demand.

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As in other sports, trainers and jockeys are paid based on the horses' performance in races. And the best of them are in high demand!

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Betting is as old as horse breeding and racing. Initially reserved for owners and breeders, it started to spread to the general public as the sport grew in popularity.

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The practice of betting itself has diversified considerably. While in the past we only bet on the winner, today there are many types of bets. Here are the main ones.

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"Single winner" is the original type of bet, it only consists of betting on the horse that will win the race.

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The "single placed" consists of finding one of the “placed” horses. What constitutes a "placed" horse depends on the number of horses in the race. If there are seven or fewer, it is only the first two horses, while a race with more than seven horses in the race, it would be the top three horses that "place". This is the most common bet in the world.

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The "winning couple" is relatively self-explanatory, with the bet needing to correctly predict the first two horses to finish.

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The "trio" is a bet on the first three in a race, in no order. For those who might consider themselves experts, they may bet on the "tiercé", or "trifecta". This is a bet on the first three, in the correct order.

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Inspired by the "trifecta", the "quarté+" consists of finding the first four of a race in the correct order. Same with the first five for "quinté+", not a bet that comes in very often but expect a good payday if it does.

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Other combinations exist, for example 2 out of 4, in which the bettor must find two of the first four horses in a race.

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The odds of a horse correspond to what the bettor receives in the event of success: for example, odds of 5 yield five times the stake. With most bettors betting on favorites, winnings are more likely but will result in lower returns than for an underdog.

If you are just starting out, it is recommended to start with a low stake and single bets, such as single win or place, or pairs. You will have plenty of time to improve afterwards!

Now, the majority of bets are made on automatic terminals. But it is also possible to pick them up at the racecourse ticket office.

A race includes seven to nine events during the day: plan for a full half-day, even if access to the racecourses is free throughout the event.

The racecourse includes two enclosures: the weighing area, open to the public, where the ticket offices, automatic terminals and café-restaurants are located, and the scales, reserved for professionals and horse owners.

After the warm-up, the horses are gathered in starting boxes. A bell rings at the start of each race, always the most anticipated moment of any race as everyone in the crowd starts to follow their bets.

The use of binoculars was once necessary, but today the race is broadcast on giant screens. Try to identify the horse you are betting on by a distinctive sign, such as its colors, its hat or its blinkers.

On arrival, the ranking is announced by the announcer as soon as it is available. You can then collect your winnings at the counter or on the terminals (if you're lucky!).

You are now prepared for your first horse race! Be careful and remember that in the end it's just a game.

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