Horse Racing Triple Crown and Thoroughbred Racing History

The American Horse Racing Triple Crown has a background as long and complex as the country itself. Since the first American racetrack was laid in Long Island, N.Y., circa 1665, America’s racing culture has been influenced by, but developed independently of, English Thoroughbred racing.

The English Triple Crown

Modern horse racing originated in the British Isles in the 12th century, when knights brought fleet Arabian horses home following the crusades. Horse owners began matching two Arabians against one another in road or cross-country races, a tradition that blossomed during Queen Anne’s reign (AD 1702-1714) into the operation of larger races at organized racetracks.

By 1814, five English staked races for 3-year-olds were designated as “classics” – the best of the best. In 1853, West Australian walked away with wins in three of those races – the first horse ever to claim such a feat – and the horse racing Triple Crown award was born. From that day to this, the three races in the English Triple Crown have been the “The Derby,” also known as the 2000 Guineas Stakes, the Epsom Stakes, and the St. Leger Stakes. The Triple Crown is also awarded, less commonly, to fillies who win the Derby, the St. Leger, and the 1000 Guineas (the latter is for fillies only).

Thoroughbred Racing Pedigrees

Thoroughbred lineage can be traced back to one of three sires, imported to England by noblemen of the 1600s and 1700s. The first of these was the Byerly Turk, imported by a “Captain Byerly” in 1689. The second, imported by Thomas Darley from Syria in 1704, was known as the Darley Arabian. The third, the Godolfin Arabian, was foaled in Yemen in 1724 and, through a series of murky events that survive only as legend, found his way through France and into the hands of Edward Coke, who brought him home to his stables at Longford Hall in Derbyshire.

Some think these three sires were bred to “native sprinting mares – most probably Scottish Galloways.” However, according to James Penn Boucaut in his 1905 book The Arab, The Byerly Turk was bred to The Royal Mares, Arabian stock imported by King Charles. It’s probable that crosses were attempted with both local and imported stock; it’s impossible to know for sure since the first Stud Book wasn’t published until 1891.

In any case, the Darley Arabian and the Godolfin Arabian were both bred to Royal Mares, daughters of the original Royal Mares and the Byerly Turk. Thus began the three lines of breeding stock to which all modern Thoroughbreds can be traced.

Blinkers On

Blinkers On Racing Stable, a leader in thoroughbred horse racing partnerships, brings together the finest in thoroughbred horse racing expertise with the best in business know-how, and above all, a team of people you can trust, to manage your investment. We are committed to helping you experience the joys of thoroughbred horse ownership. For more information on thoroughbred partnerships visit our website or request an information package about our partnership. Keep up with horse racing in California by reading our Blog, finding us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, checking us out on LinkedIn, or visiting our YouTube Channel!

 

Derby Attire – A Style and History

Derby Attire – A Style and History

From early match races between nobility to the modern track races among the masses, elegance and high fashion have juxtaposed themselves against the dust and sweat of the track.

Racing History

The origins of horse racing are lost in the mists of time. Since the earliest domestication of horses by tribesmen of Central Asia around 4500 B.C., racing has been a sport of kings. The origins of today’s style of racing began in the 12th century, when English knights brought light, fast Arabian horses home from the Crusades. From the first match races among the little Arabians to the professional thoroughbred racetracksof the early 1700s, the nobility celebrated power of the horse alongside the posh pleasure of “betting on the ponies.”

High Society and Fashion

This pastime of the nobles inherited all the social and political circumstances of its devotees and competitors. Races were social events in which style, etiquette, and political jockeying were as much a part of the festivities as the jockeying on the track. When English settlers brought thoroughbred racing to the United States and built an American version of the British Triple Crown, the traditions of high society substance and style came along for the ride.

Rubbing Elbows

Through the creation of a nation and the changing fashions of 300 years, American racing spectators have been a variable mix of rich and poor, the haves and the have-nots. The have-nots come in the hopes of that long-shot win that could change their fortunes. The haves come with the background and passion of hunt clubs and family histories. Each came – and still come – dressed in their best. It’s been this way since the laying of the first track in Long Island, N.Y., around 1665, and high-style “race day” fashions have been a part of the scene since the very beginning.

Dress Codes, Hats, and History

Dress at the track will depend on the area of the stands you’ll inhabit for the day. It’s not unusual for private Turf Clubs to enforce a strict dress code. This code usually requires suits or sport jackets with optional ties for men, and suits, sun dresses, or daytime dresses for women. Jacket and dress patterns are sometimes designed, with admirable loyalty, to mimic a jockey’s racing colors.

Even in less-restricted areas of the grandstands, men and women tend to wear their best warm-weather derby attire in the race day spirit, though ladies’ heels seem to get lower and lower as you move from the high-class boxes to the bleacher seats. In horse racing style, fashion meets practicality. Cotton, linen, and lightweight blends reign supreme in the heat of the day. Though hemlines have expanded and contracted, sundresses have been a staple on race day for decades. And since the earliest days, ladies’ hats have been a fashion focus at the racetrack. From the earliest days of match races among the elite to the modern track races among the masses, noble elegance and high fashion have juxtaposed themselves against the dust and sweat of the track.

Blinkers On

Blinkers On Racing Stable, a leader in thoroughbred horse racing partnerships, brings together the finest in thoroughbred horse racing expertise with the best in business know-how, and above all, a team of people you can trust, to manage your investment. We are committed to helping you experience the joys of thoroughbred horse ownership. For more information on thoroughbred partnerships visit our website or request an information package about our partnership. Keep up with horse racing in California by reading our Blog, finding us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, checking us out on LinkedIn, or visiting our YouTube Channel!

 

Claiming Races – Horses’ Career Path

Claiming Races

Making up almost 70 percent of all horse races in the United States, a claiming race is a race in which each and every horse is entered at a fixed price and can be bought or “claimed” by any licensed owner prior to the start of the race. There are several different price levels of claiming race, ranging anywhere from around $10,000 for low-level horses to over $45,000 for very high-level horses.

Should a licensed owner wish to place a “claim” at the track, they may simply go to the claiming office and fill out a claim form, which must then be dropped into the claim box at least 16 minutes before the start of the race. Upon making a claim, that owner must first deposit sufficient funds to cover both the claiming price and sales tax with the bookkeeper at the track.

At the end of the race, the claim box is opened, and each horse with a claim on it comes under the ownership of the person(s) who put in the claim, even if the horse was injured during the race or performs poorly.  In exchange, the previous owner gets to keep the price for which the horse was entered. The original owner is also awarded any winnings from the race that the horse had won. The new owner is responsible for transporting, horse training and stabling the horse immediately after the end of the claiming race.

If more than a single claim has been placed on a horse, the racing secretary uses a “shake” to determine who actually wins the horse. Normally, the shake involves the use of a “Kelly” bottle that contains numbered pills corresponding to each of the claims made. At the end of the race, the racing secretary draws one of the pills from the bottle to determine the winner. All claimants who did not win the horse are not required to pay, and their money is returned to them.

Purpose of Claiming Races

Because claiming races are established for different price levels, the prices on most horses are the same. This makes the competition and ability of horses nearly equal, and many owners will enter a horse in a claiming race in an effort to get the horse more racing experience while gambling on the fact that no one will claim the horse. Although the claiming process can win you a promising horse that will perform well in the future, it can also be very risky. Oftentimes, an owner who has determined a horse is past its peak will enter that horse into a claiming race with the hopes that someone will make a claim and rid them of a costly non-performer.

Risks of Claiming Races

Horses entered into claiming races are often of low or moderate talent, or older horses that are almost done with their racing careers.  Before claiming a horse, no claimant is allowed to have a veterinarian check for any medical conditions, and prospective bidders must rely on their trainer to get as much information as possible from the evaluation of the horse.  In addition, because ownership is transferred at the start of a race, if the horse that has been claimed is injured during the claiming races; the new owner must pay the purchase price and take ownership of the horse regardless of its condition. The new owner must also have a way to transport the horse after the race is over and is immediately responsible for the horse’s care and boarding.

Rewards of Claiming Races

Although horses that run in claiming races may be of low to moderate talent, some trainers will enter young horses that are just beginning their thoroughbred racing careers to find their true level of ability.  In 1961, a foal named Crazy Kid was claimed for $2750 in a claiming race in Mexico by Paula Hunt.  In 1962, Crazy Kid won the Bing Crosby Handicap race with a world-record time of 1:07 4/5.

In addition, breeders will sometime use claiming races to build breeding stock if a claiming racer appears to have certain abilities that could be passed on to young horses.  There have been instances where claimed horses have gone on to become champions.

Blinkers On

Blinkers On Racing Stable, a leader in thoroughbred horse racing partnerships, brings together the finest in thoroughbred horse racing expertise with the best in business know-how, and above all, a team of people you can trust, to manage your investment. We are committed to helping you experience the joys of thoroughbred horse ownership. For more information on thoroughbred partnerships visit our website or request an information package about our partnership. Keep up with horse racing in California by reading our Blog, finding us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, checking us out on LinkedIn, or visiting our YouTube Channel!

 

Types of Horse Races – Claiming Races, Allowance Races, Stakes Races and Graded Stakes Races

Types of Horse Races

Claiming Races, Allowance Races, Stakes Races and Graded Stakes Races

Like any other sport, horse racing has varying levels of ability and experience.  Because of the variety in ability, class and experience, the industry has different types of races available so that horses can be entered in a race in which they have a legitimate chance to win.

Claiming Races

In claiming races, all horses entered have a price tag and are available to be “claimed” or purchased by anyone who has an owner’s license and funds to cover the price of the horse on deposit at the track.  The claim is placed in a claim box at the track before the start of the race.  At the end of the race, the horse is “claimed” by a new owner while the previous owner gets any purse won by the horse in that race.  Horses in claiming races are often older or have low to moderate ability.  More than half of all races are claiming races.

Allowance Races

In allowance races, the horses do not have a price tag and are not for sale.  The purse levels in allowance races are higher than claiming races because the horses are of a higher quality.  However, it is not unusual for a horse to go back and forth between claiming races and allowance races based on how the horse is performing at any given time.  Allowance races have conditions that horses must meet before they can be entered into the race.  Such conditions may include the weight  or sex of the horse, but normally these conditions have more to do with how often the horse has won and the purses the owner has taken.

Stakes Races

Stakes races have higher purses than claiming or allowance races due to the tougher competition and higher level of ability of the competing horses.  In stakes races, owners contribute to the purse of the race through entry fees or nomination fees at the race track.  Each race has certain conditions that must be met before a horse enters the race.  These conditions can relate to the horse’s racing record, sex, age, etc.

Graded Stakes Races

Graded stakes races are the top of the line in horse racing.  The top horses are usually found in graded stakes racing, which offers the highest purses.  Graded stakes racing terms are applied by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.  In order to race a horse in a graded stakes race, the owner must pay a “stake” or an entry fee.  In some races, there are weight limits and others require certain genders, classes and ages to be entered.  The Preakness, Belmont Stakes and the Kentucky Derby are all graded stakes races.

Knowing the various types of horse races can be helpful, especially for those who are considering investing in horse racing, either through the purchase of a horse or investing in a racing partnership.

Blinkers On

Blinkers On Racing Stable, a leader in thoroughbred horse racing partnerships, brings together the finest in thoroughbred horse racing expertise with the best in business know-how, and above all, a team of people you can trust, to manage your investment. We are committed to helping you experience the joys of thoroughbred horse ownership. For more information on thoroughbred partnerships visit our website or request an information package about our partnership. Keep up with horse racing in California by reading our Blog, finding us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, checking us out on LinkedIn, or visiting our YouTube Channel!