Online Gambling - Racing

Harness Racing

Harness racing is a form of horse racing, where the horses usually pull two wheeled carts known as sulkies. Harness races can be conducted in two differing gaits; trotting and pacing. The difference is that a trotter moves its legs forward in diagonal pairs, right front and left hind, then left front and right hind striking the ground simultaneously, whereas a pacer moves its legs laterally, right front and right hind together, then left front and left hind.

In Europe harness races are conducted exclusively between trotters, in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US races are held for pacers. Pacing horses are faster and less likely to break stride, a horse which starts to gallop must be slowed down and taken to the outside until it regains stride.

Racing

The majority of harness races in North America are at the distance of one mile, North American harness horses are assigned a "mark" which is their fastest winning time at that distance. Harness races involve considerable strategy, track size plays an important part on racing; the smaller half-mile and five-eighths rings common to harness racing early speed becomes a more important factor, while the longer stretch runs of seven-eighths and mile tracks lend themselves more favorably to closing efforts.

Unlike thoroughbreds, harness horses accelerate during the final quarter mile of a race, the finishes of harndess races are often spectacular and perhaps more often extremely close. Most races are run on tracks constructed solely for hardness racing, though a few tracks accomdate for harness and Thoroughbred flat racing.

Harness racing in Australia differs from North American harness racing, in that metric distances are used, generally above the equivalent of one mile and orses are classed by how many wins they have. In Australian racing the leader does not have to hand up the lead to any horse that challenges, often leaving a horse parked outside the leader in the "death seat", as this horse covers more ground than the leader.

New Zealand harness racing is similar to Australian harness racing, many horses are able to easily cross the tasman to compete as well on either side of the sea that seperates Australia and New Zealand.