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How much money can a horse win?
Stake money for Harness Racing is on an
ever-increasing upward spiral with over $32m up for
grabs in Victoria alone in 2005/06. With over 4,000
races programmed during that period there are plenty
of opportunities to share in the money on offer.
The minimum metropolitan stake at Moonee Valley is
$15,000, while the minimum country stake is $4,500.
On top of this, Victoria hosts a plethora of
features across the year for all ages and sexes.
Harness Racing plays an important part in the lives
of thousands of Victorians through employment,
entertainment or the hundreds of businesses that
service it.
It can be said that Harness Racing has its origins
in the days of Roman chariot racing, two thousand
years ago. The modern history of the sport dates
back around 200 years. It began in the U.S.A in the
late 1700’s. The earliest trotting competitions seen
in Australia were street races.
The discovery of gold in Victoria brought thousands
of Americans to the diggings at Ballarat, Bendigo
and surrounding country side. The Americans and
Canadians soon brought with them the love of
trotting and racing. American John Peck, along with
several friends organised a special race meeting
just for those horses which favoured the trotting or
pacing gaits in 1859. It was agreed that this
program would be the American Trotting Races.
Harness Racing on a permanent basis started in
Melbourne in 1882 at Elsternwick Park, and after
this clubs were rapidly established in many country
centres across the State.
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What is a Harness Horse?
The modern harness racing horse or harness racer, is
known as a “Standardbred”. This name was introduced
in 1879 to describe a breed or horse able to meet
the required standard of pacing or trotting one mile
in 2 minutes 30 seconds.
The criteria for the breed were very stringent and
have proved so successful that all thoroughbred and
Arabian influences have been weeded out leaving a
unique breed or horse now capable of covering a mile
in less than 2 minutes, in harness.
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How fast is a Harness Horse?
Races usually are contested at speeds averaging
45-50 kilometres per hour. When leaving the starting
gate, speeds of up to 60 km/hr are achieved by top
horses.
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What causes horses to break stride and start
galloping?
Several factors can cause breaks. A horse may be
going too fast to maintain his gait. He may be
tired. He may be interfered with. He may also be
lame.
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Why do drivers sometimes hold their horses back?
A driver must judge the ability of the horse to run
a certain time over the required distance of the
race. If a driver believes his horse can run a mile
rate of 2:05 and no more, a driver may pull back on
him and try to sprint fast to the finish.
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Are there age limits for Harness Racing horses?
A horse may not race until he reaches two years of
age. A horse is not required to retire at a set age
and some horses in fact, keep racing until their
early teens.
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Does a driver’s weight make a difference in
driving?
For years the experts have been saying no, except
under muddy conditions. Some observers have noticed,
however, that a majority of the sports leading
drivers have tended to be on the small and light
side.
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How often does a horse race?
Once a week is considered the ideal, although this
is at the discretion of the horse’s owners and/or
trainer.
The number of races available for a particular class
can also determine how many starts a horse can have.
Most horses race for a certain time and then have a
short break from racing (which is called a spell)
before resuming.
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Are there age or gender restrictions on drivers?
A junior driver can obtain a license at 16 years of
age. There is no set retiring age for drivers.
Drivers can be male or female, there is no
restriction.
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Is a driver permitted to bet in a race in which
he/she is driving?
Yes, but only on his/her own horse.
A driver may bet in any other race.
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Do favourites win most races?
The race is settled on the track, not by the
pre-race opinion of bettors. Favourites, however,
win roughly 37% of the time.
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Is it better for a horse to race along the rail?
Definitely. Mathematicians have figured that a horse
travelling 1.6 metres from the rail (one horse from
the fence) will travel 20 metres further than a
horse at the rail over 1609 metres (one mile) on an
800m circumference track.
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Is driving dangerous?
A certain amount of danger is inherent in any
activity that combines great speed and split second
decision making. Harness racing contains both of
those elements and safety precautions must be taken
to minimise risks. eg. Helmets must be worn by
drivers, wheels must have safety disks covering the
spokes.
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Why do some horses have their legs bandaged?
For the same reason that human athletes frequently
wear tape and other bandages to help support their
legs and to provide protection.
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What is the coloured roll worn on the head of
some horses?
That’s a shadow roll, a large sheepskin type roll
worn across the face, just below the eyes. It cuts
off the horse’s view of the track so that he won’t
shy at shadow’s, pieces of paper or other objects.
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How much does a sulky weigh?
The modern sulky weighs around 18 kilograms. A jog
cart, used in training the horse, weighs about 27
kilograms.
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What is the pole alongside some horses heads?
It’s called a lugging pole and it is used to prevent a
horse from turning its head to the side
opposite that on which the pole is worn. Some horses
have a tendency to turn their heads while racing
around the turns.
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Do drivers always wear the same colours?
All colours must be registered with Harness Racing
Victoria. Drivers wear either the colours registered
to the horse’s trainer or those belonging to the
owner of the horse.
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How much is a driver paid?
Most drivers receive 5 percent of whatever their
horse wins in a race. All drivers receive a fee of
$40 (city) or $30 (country) for driving in a race.
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How many horses earn money in a race?
Usually, the majority of the stake money in a race is
won by the first four place-getters. The
distribution of stake money is split as follows:
1st – 70% 2nd – 15% 3rd – 10% 4th – 5%
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Why is a horse warmed up?
Harness horses are one of the world’s most finely
conditioned athletic competitors. And, just as a
human track loosens his muscles with a
preliminary activity, so too does a trotter or
pacer.
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Who picks a winner in a close race?
The judges, relying on a photo finish camera at all
tracks where betting is conducted. The picture is
taken at the exact instant the finish line is
reached.
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Are races supervised?
Are they ever! Races are normally supervised by a
number of ‘stewards’ who are responsible for the
running of all events. They are assisted in their
duties by closed circuit television to record races
and provide playbacks. This system enables the
industry to protect the public and those within the
industry from people with selfish or dishonest
intentions.
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