Archive for the ‘Racing Sport’ Category
Horse Racing Around the World
Horse racing can be traced back to the Roman chariot races and currently exists in some form in most countries. These events are fun and exciting to attend, but for the most part they are tied to gambling. The most common form in the United States is thoroughbred racing, while in Great Britain horse racing usually involves obstacles. This style is referred to as National Hunt Racing. This is also the preferred style of racing in Ireland and it is referred to as Jump style racing. Every country that presents this event has their own rules and different styles of races.
Horse Racing is very popular in many parts of the world, even South Africa. The event began here in 1797, although the first recorded club meeting took place in 1802. Currently its premier event is the Durban July handicap, an event that draws roughly 50,000 people each year. The sport is also popular in Australia where the annual Melbourne Cup is referred to as the ‘race that stops a nation.’ This country’s first racing club was formed in Wallahbadah in 1852. The Wallahbadah cup is actually still held every year on New Year’s Day.
The horse racing sport was established in New Zealand back during colonial times. At the present time it is practically an integral part of the country’s economy. It also does much to improve the local economies throughout the country. It is estimated that 40,000 people throughout the country depend on the sport for their livelihood. As you can imagine, the sport goes back centuries in European countries such as France. The most popular course in this region is the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe which is held the first Sunday in October in Longchamp Racecourse.
In Italy, the most famous horse racing event is the Palio di Siena. This race is held twice a year, on July 2 and August 16. An interesting aspect of this race is that each of the 17 horses and riders represent one of the 17 city wards. This race invariably follows an elegant pageant which attracts spectators from all over the world. As was previously mentioned, Great Britain prefers obstacle racing, but there are some other interesting things about their races as well. For example, instead of referring to races as ‘Race 1, Race 2,’ the races are named after the time they begin. For example, they would be called 2:30, 4:00.
While it is beyond the scope of this article to explain the different races throughout each country, the sport is also very popular in Asian countries, especially China, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Japan, Mongolia, Pakistan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. In these countries however, betting may be illegal, or strictly regulated. Each country has its own laws regarding this. Japan has a large number of races held each year, roughly 21,000 in three different types: flat racing, jump racing, and draft racing. Altogether, the country has a total of 30 different race tracks. For more information visit http://www.hipro86.com.
Types of Horse Racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has been popular throughout the centuries. Horse racing is one of the most attended and most enjoyed sports events in the world. Many people do not realize that there are different types of horse racing. The following is a list of some of the various forms of horse racing that are currently practiced throughout the world:
Harness Horse Racing: This type of horse racing is popular in New Zealand, Australia, Europe and North America. It involves the horses pulling the jockey on a two-wheeled cart. This form of horse racing requires strategy as much as speed. There are two types of this form of horse racing which is based on the gait used: Pacing consists of horses running faster with shorter breaks during a race. When a horse starts to gallop, it must be slowed until it can regain the gait. In Trotting, horses move their legs diagonally, meaning that the right front leg and the left hind leg hit the ground at the same time.
The Standardbred is recognized worldwide for its harness racing ability. Standardbreds are best known for their ability to harness race at a trot or pace form. They are solid, well-built horses with good dispositions. Standardbreds are relatively intelligent animals.
Thoroughbred Racing: Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide event that involves the racing of thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: flat racing and jump racing. Jump racing can be further divided into hurdling and steeple chasing. Horses competing in this form of racing are faster than those in other equestrian events. It is a popular sport with gamblers. The distances of the race can vary from 3/4 mile to more than two miles. Speed is a major factor with thoroughbred racing. It involves high-quality horses and prestigious prizes. Horses competing in these types of events are often of the same class, gender, and age.
Quarter-Horse Racing: This type of event involves the racing of horses at great speed for short distances on a straight course. It got its name quarter-horse because the race originally ran a quarter of a mile. It is a much newer sport because its governing body was not formed until the 1940s. The classic distance of a Quarter Horse race is 440 yards (400 m), but races are run anywhere between 100 and 1,000 yards (91 and 910 m). Quarter Horses are faster than Thoroughbreds, but run shorter distances. American Quarter Horses are shorter and more muscular than Thoroughbreds.
Stakes Races: This type of race involves the best horses. These events have the highest purses Races run from small purses of a few thousand dollars to the Breeders’ Cup Classic for $5 million. There are three grades controlled by the Graded Stakes Committee, insuring a Grade 1, 2, or 3 race event. Most midsize or larger tracks will have at least one grade 3 race while larger tracks such as Churchill Downs or Belmont Park will have several of all grades.
Major horse racetracks in the US include Saratoga Springs, New York, Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky, Belmont Park in Elmont, New York (outside New York City on Long Island,) and Keeneland Race Track in Lexington, Kentucky. The latest major horse track opened in the US was the Meadowlands Racetrack opened in 1977 for thoroughbred racing. It is the home of the Meadowlands Cup
Being one of the oldest racing sports, horse racing fever has spread throughout the world. It is a thrilling event for horse racing fans of all ages.
The Responsibilities of Caring for Freshwater Fish
Usually freshwater fish are considered the pets for people that are either lazy or don’t really want to take care of something They may like the idea of a pet but perhaps one that you don’t have to interact with as often as others, underestimating the responsibility of freshwater fish care. Well, fish can be the pet for you but it is wise to understand that fish can’t just be tossed into a tank and then left until they die. This is not proper handling of fish and they do require that you actually know a little something about them.
Research is always a great idea when considering a pet–especially fish, as there are SO many types of freshwater fish to choose from. If you’re wanting more than one fish in a tank, be sure to find out whether they are aggressive or not, as some fish will literally kill others in the same tank. It is also wise to understand the environmental needs of your fish, such as tank size, whether it requires freshwater or saltwater, and how often the tank should be cleaned (some fish actually eat the “gunky” build-up on tank walls).
Of course feeding the fish must also be done on a regular basis. Talk to the person or store you got your fish from to determine what brand and how often they were fed before you take your fish home. This can save you a lot of trouble and worry later on. You don’t want to under-feed or over-feed your fish if you can help it. So again research is an adequate process here like other pets.
Another job that needs to be done semi regularly is the cleaning of the tank. It is usually recommended that 1/3 of the tanks water is changed monthly. This is to guarantee that the fish are getting a fresh tank to live in.
If you remember to follow these steps and act accordingly when purchasing a freshwater aquarium fish, then you will be fine. Your fish should live a healthy life and last as long as they are supposed to.