Harness racing known for its distinctive nature stands out from other races
Harness racing is a very unique form of horse racing, like other racing types, this type also has many technicalities. The jockey rides the horse by sitting over a two wheeled cart, which is pulled by the horse.
The horse in this race has a particular way of movement, either that specific movement is the result of the horse trainer or it’s natural.
In different countries horses of specific lineages are used for the harness racing, like in North America Standardbred horse are used for harness race, where as Horses with French or Russian pedigrees participate in European harness racing.
Standardbred are idealised due to the fact that these horses can move their legs forward diagonally at the same time by easily covering the distance of 1 mile in a standard time.
There physical appearance is very much different than the Thoroughbreds used for flat racing or steeplechase race, Standardred have short legs with high length bodies. This type of horse has a very calm and peaceful nature, because in harness racing it requires
strategy and judging the accurate measure of the speed.
Standarbred horses sire was Messenger, who was foaled back in 1780, he was breed by John Pratt. This gray English Thoroughbred was bought by Henry Astor after the American Resolution.
Messenger’s grandson Hambletonian 10 was known for his superior racing abilities and skills, he gained fans not only from his exceptional valor but he was also famous among people due to its lineage. In North America most of the harness race horses belongs
to Hambletonian 10’s lineage.
Harness racing is conducted in two different styles one is trotting and the other in pacing, in pacing the horse moves its legs latterly, where as in totting the legs are moved in diagonal pairs forward.
Standarbred with trot gait is known as a trotting and a horse with pace gait is familiar by the name of pacer.
In United Kingdom and United States of America harness races are held among pacers, whereas in Europe trotters are used for the race.
As compared to trotter pacer horses are considered to be faster, the reason is that they have less chances of breaking their stride, these horse usually wear hobbles or hopples which are used for the purpose of support for the speed of the gait.
During a race the jockey is mounted over a cart which is pulled by the horse, the two wheeled cart consists of bicycle wheels.
A whip is used by the jockey to make the horse increase its speed, there are rules which describe when and how much whip should be used, strict actions are takes against the jockey if whipping increases its defined amount.
This race type is not only known for its uniqueness but also for the historical racing events attached to it.
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