Why do race horses go around the track backwards while practicing?

Question

Why do race horses go around the track backwards while practicing?

Answer 1

Um... race horses in the US all gallop counter clockwise when on the track for races or workouts.

Answer 2

Thanks - you gave me this great vision of horses madly running around, tail first!!!!  :-)

Answer 3

do they?

Answer 4

when you first take the horse onto the track for morning workouts they take them clockwise.  They walk a little then trot and a little canter to warm up.  I think it's for two reasons...  

first, it's to balance their muscles.  If you have ever run at a track in a gym you'll notice that they switch the direction every couple of days... if you're always running to the left, your muscles are stronger for that direction... you'll be lopsided.  It's the same for horses.

Second, horses know which direction they're going.  Horses are trained to go really fast when taken counter clockwise, particularly when they're close to the rail going that direction.  You want the horse to warm up before the workout... so you take them right when asking them to run slowly, then turn around and go left when asking them to go faster.  Horses warm up before the race going to the right too for the same reason.