Why are there other horses who are not racing in the paddock before a race?

Question

I went to the race track for the first time on Saturday and when we went to the paddock to look at the horses for the next race, there were generally other horses there that were not for the next race. We asked one of the handlers and he said that the horse was racing the next day and gave us the name, but due to a language barrier we couldn't figure out more than that. What was the horse there for? Due they get a vet check the day before they race in the paddock?

Answer 1

The horses you saw are called "schoolers", their grooms at some tracks will have a blue bib on it that has a S on it (as opposed to the horses in the race whose grooms have their numbers on the bib).  They are usually horses who have yet to start in a race and are being "schooled" in the paddock.  On occasion horses who are high strung or may have acted up in the paddock before are brought over to school the day before the race so they don't get so wound up the following day.  You will see almost every Derby and Oaks horse go over to school in the paddock a few days before the race, Churchill has a fairly small paddock area and with so many horses and people both in and outside of the paddock even the most laid back horse can get wound up.  This will give them a look at the surroundings and get them used to a crowd close to the size they will face on the big day.  You also will see some of the horses walk into and around the paddock with the exercise rider up before they start their work in the mornings, leading up to the Derby.  They get their vet check the morning of the race at their own barn, usually by 10 or 11am.

Answer 2

Yes, all horses are examined the day before a race, but such exams take place in the stall, not the paddock. The other horses you describe are most likely either lead/ stable ponies, or they are the mounts that the outriders ride ( the men and sometimes women who wear scarlet or green coats and ride in the begining, middle, and end of the post parade.) who are waiting to be mounted. These horses are very special, because they have such a critically important job to do. The outriders at most tracks are often called a jockey's or exercise rider's best friend, because they do a lot to help make racing safe and prevent accidents. If a horse stumbles or bolts, the outriders will stop such an animal before it injures or kills someone or itself. Another job they have is catching loose horses that have shed their riders. These people are EXPERT horsepeople and riders ( some of them are retired jockeys or trainers in their own right) and the horses they ride are calm, spook-proof, mature horses who can be counted upon to help their riders control and catch difficult young racehorses when that is what is needed. The outriders at most tracks all carry radios, and many of them also have other specialized equipment in their possession, such as a camera mounted to their helmets. When Barbaro broke down last May, the first person on the scene to help his jockey calm him was an outrider, in this case the one who was stationed closest to the starting gate. The outrider was the one who radioed for the horse ambulance to come and pick the colt up. Outriders serve one other very visible function as well- they are the ones who catch the winners of every race and escort the winner back to the winner's circle. When the Derby is run in a couple weeks, you will see an outrifder with the winner once the race is over.

Answer 3

They're lead ponies and help the race horses get onto the track!

Answer 4

Well usually horses that are in the paddok might be training or might be the lead ponies like the people said below.

--melissa--

RIP Barbaro

GO CURLIN

Answer 5

The horses who are in the paddock are usually the "pony horses"..horses that walk out with the race horses that have a rider. They keep the race horses from running off (at least, they try to) and help lead them to the starting gate.

Answer 6

Younger horses or horses at a track for the first time will be taken to the paddock to get schooled so they will be more comfortable with their pre-race setting.  Horse can be very upset with new surroundings so this would help calm them down.  It doesn't happen very often but this is probably what you saw.

Keith

Answer 7

the horses that you saw on the paddock are horses that are going to be racing the following day and are just walking around to used to the area. the trainers generally do that so when the day comes to be raced the horse won't get nervous because of unfamiliar territory.