Flat and Jump Horse Races |
In Britain, there are two differing kinds of racing - Flat and Jump. Some racecourses are Flat Racing only, some that are Jump Racing only, and a few that can accommodate both kinds of racing.
Jump Racing (National Hunt)
The Jump Season proper starts in Autumn and goes through to spring, we see the racing culminating in finale's at Cheltenham and at Aintree. The last Jump meeting is a mixed card of Jump and Flat racing at Sandown, to hand over racing for the summer to the flat meetings. Most jump horses do not race during the summer, but a few meetings are held. None of these races are short distances, like the flat racing.
Jump races are divided into three categories-
1. Steeplechase races have large fences such as ditches, water jumps, and plain fences. These are very high fences, and much more difficult to clear than a hurdle.
2. Hurdles races are not as high, thinner, and do not have any ditches, or water on the other side.
3. National Hunt Flat races allow younger Jump horses to get the hang of racing with other horses before they try jumping.
Flat Racing
All of the races are short distances, where horses run at a fast speed to the line. Sometimes certain meetings have a draw bias due to the short distance, and how the course bends. Jockeys perhaps has a small effect on the outcame, as all the horses are running at top speed, and it is speed that wins the race. There are no fences in Flat Racing. |
