Learn Racing Basics for More Thrills at the Track by Ray La Foy

Anyone who has never been to the track is missing out on something spectacular. There's just something incredible about watching horse racing live. The thunder of the hooves, the thrill of the crowd, the energy, the beauty, the speed - they all combine to make horse racing one of the most incredible spectator sports imaginable.

Unfortunately, for many who have never been to a track, the majesty of horse racing is lost on them. The fact is this particular sport is one of the oldest in the world. The incredible feats that go along with it are the stuff legends are made of. If you think about it, the difficulty involved in horse racing is incredible.

First off, for horse racing to be successful, an animal must be trained to not only run incredibly fast, but also to heed the instructions of the person on its back. The animal must have agility, speed and a trust for humanity that's unwavering.

Secondly, the person in the driver's seat, so to say, must also undergo some serious training. Putting your life in the hands of a four-legged speed demon isn't something most people are willing to jump up and do. Jockeys must learn the ropes of riding and riding fast while also finding their own way to gain the respect and loyalty of the horse they will ride.

Thirdly, this rider and horse team must get onto a horse racing track with many other riding teams and race like the wind for the finish line. Avoiding accident and injury while seeking the win are the keys that make horse racing so incredible to watch.

Whether a person is going to the track for the first time to just watch or to actually place bets on potential winners, there are some things they should know about the adventure.

Here's some basic horse racing terminology that will come in handy:

Basic wager words: Win, place and show. This means an attempt to pick the winner, the first or second place winner or the first, second or third place winner, respectively.

Apprentice: The term for a new jockey.

Bay: A term used to describe a brown horse with black "points," which are the mane, tails and lower legs.

Bleeder: A term used to describe a horse that bleeds when it exerts heavily.

Colt: A male horse that is ungelded and under the age of 5.

Dead heat: When two or more horses are tied at the end of a race.

Derby: A race for 3-year-old horses.

Filly: A female horse that has not been bred and who is under the age of five.

Foal: A horse that hasn't hit its first birthday.

Gallop: This is a fast gait that involves all four feet being off the ground simultaneously.

Gelding: A male horse that has been castrated.

Hand: The measure of a horse's height. One hand equals four inches.

Hot walk: The process of cooling down a horse after exertion.

Juvenile: A horse that's age 2.

Match race: A race between two horses.

Mudder: The term used to describe horses that run well on muddy tracks.

Nose: The term used to describe the smallest winning margin.

There are many more terms that are used in horse racing. Anyone who hasn't watched this sport live will find they learn them rather quick when they attend the track. Whether it's to bet or just watch, horse racing is a great sport for a whole lot of reasons.

Author Resource: The best horse race betting resources reviewed online:

Horse Race Betting Systems.

http://www.sportsbettingwin.com

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