| Thoroughbred horse racing is something which | | | | The turf courses are just as long as are the dirt |
| most of us have some familiarity with, largely | | | | track races, with the thoroughbreds running the |
| thanks to the three biggest Thoroughbred horse | | | | same distances as in other types of |
| races being televised each year. These three are | | | | Thoroughbred racing. The only differences are the |
| the Preakness, the Belmont Stakes and the | | | | turf - and the terminology which is used in these |
| Kentucky Derby, collectively known as the | | | | sorts of Thoroughbred races. |
| Thoroughbred Triple Crown. | | | | Different words are used in order to describe the |
| All three of the Triple Crown races are run on a | | | | conditions of a dirt race track during a race than |
| flat dirt track. The horses tend to pace | | | | are used to describe the conditions of a turf |
| themselves through most of the race, saving a | | | | course. In dirt track Thoroughbred racing, "fast" |
| surge of power and speed for the finish. There | | | | means the same thing as if we were to say |
| have also been cases of horses with so much | | | | "firm" in a turf course race. |
| speed that they win the race from start to finish. | | | | Thoroughbred racing can also involve races where |
| What many spectators to these races do not | | | | the horses have to jump over fences placed |
| realize is that this is only one type of | | | | throughout the course; these races are called |
| Thoroughbred horse racing that is available and | | | | steeplechases and give the horse and rider alike |
| while these races are the most popular | | | | an extra challenge - and an extra measure of |
| Thoroughbred horse races, there are other forms | | | | excitement to the viewers. |
| of Thoroughbred horseracing that are popular as | | | | Speed is the only consideration for thoroughbreds |
| well. | | | | that run races only on flat race courses; horses |
| Turf racing is another popular variation on | | | | that run steeplechases, however, need to have a |
| Thoroughbred racing. The distinction between | | | | lot of stamina to finish these races - and jockeys |
| these races and other Thoroughbred races is that | | | | have to know the right time to make the jumps. |
| they are run on grass rather than dirt, though | | | | The length of the race is the determining factor in |
| everything else about the races remains the | | | | how many hurdles that the horse will have to |
| same. | | | | jump during the race. |