| What is the difference between thoroughbred racing | | | | type of two-wheeled cart that is fairly lightweight and |
| and harness racing? Thoroughbred racing is quite well | | | | is connected to the horse via a harness. |
| known and popular, but harness racing certainly has its | | | | Another notable difference between thoroughbred |
| own set of fans as well. If you are more familiar with | | | | racing and harness racing is the fact that in harness |
| one type than the other, make sure you understand | | | | events there is no galloping. Instead, the horse will |
| both forms in order to enjoy the fun and challenge that | | | | either trot or pace. When following harness racing, it is |
| both types provide. | | | | important to keep in mind that pacing is actually the |
| Harness racing is also sometimes referred to as | | | | faster of the two different types of gaits. Trotting |
| standard bred racing. This type of racing dates back | | | | horses and pacing horses are raced in different |
| quite some time and was once quite popular during | | | | events. If the horse should begin to gallop at any point |
| county fairs. Just as thoroughbreds are used | | | | during the race, the horse must be slowed and must |
| exclusively in other types of racing, harness utilizes a | | | | return to the correct gait or he will be disqualified. The |
| specific breed of horse known as the standard bred. | | | | horse that crosses the finish line first in harness racing |
| At one time, in order for horses to be able to qualify | | | | will win the race. |
| for registration within that breed, the horse had to be | | | | Like thoroughbred events, harness races are held all |
| able to trot for one mile. As a result, a mile remains the | | | | over the country at various times of the year. There |
| typical length that is covered in most harness races. | | | | are also licensing regulations and rules regarding the |
| One of the primary differences between standard | | | | administration of harness races just as with |
| bred and thoroughbred racing is the harness that is | | | | thoroughbreds. Each type of harness racing, trotting |
| used in harness racing. In thoroughbred events, the | | | | and pacing, has its own championship. Trotters race in |
| horse is ridden by a jockey. That is not the case in | | | | the Yonkers Raceway, the Hambletonian and the |
| harness racing. Instead, a driver follows behind the | | | | Kentucky Futurity. Pacers race in the Cane Pace, the |
| horse in a conveyance called a sulky. The sulky is a | | | | Little Brown Jug and the Messenger Stakes. |