Ruqayyah Snyder
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait (a trot or a pace) while pulling a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, spider, or chariot occupied by a driver. In Australia, harness racing is conducted with Standardbred horses racing around a track. Races are conducted in an anti-clockwise direction over distances from 1,609 metres (1 mile) to 2,650 metres, although some races are run over longer distances. This article will explore the distances covered by harness horses in Australia and provide insight into the world of harness racing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Harness racing in Australia | Conducted with Standardbred horses racing around a track while pulling a driver in a two-wheeled cart called a "sulky", "gig" or "bike" |
| Standardbred racehorses | Compete in two gaits, pacing and trotting, and trotters may enter pacing events, but not vice versa |
| Races | Conducted in an anti-clockwise direction over distances from 1,609 metres (1 mile) to 2,650 metres, and some races are run over longer distances |
| Harness racing tracks | Typically measure from 700 to 1,000 metres |
| Race meetings | Often conducted at night, with many major metropolitan meetings held on Friday and Saturday nights |
| Starting gates | Modern starting gates include auto start, allowing the starter to focus on the horse's positioning; they use a driver to steer and an observer in the rear to call a false start if needed |
| Standing start | Horses stand behind an elastic tape connected across the track, with multiple tapes at 10 or 5-metre intervals to facilitate handicapping |
| Pacers and trotters | Pacers contest 80-90% of Australian harness races; they are faster and less likely to break stride than trotters |
| Hobbles | Used by pacers, which are straps connecting the legs on each side of the horse, helping maintain gait at top speed |
| Judging | Races are supervised by 'Stewards' who rely on photo finish cameras, with all races videoed and stopped when the first horse's nose reaches the finish line |
| Top speed | Depends on breed, with Quarter Horses recorded at speeds up to 57.9 mph, while Dutch Warmbloods, Standardbreds, and Mustangs can reach 30 mph |
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What You'll Learn
Standardbred horses
Races are conducted in an anti-clockwise direction generally over distances from 1,609 metres (1 mile) to 2,650 metres, although some races are run over longer distances. Harness racing tracks typically measure from 700 to 1,000 metres. The modern Australian Standardbred is generally slightly smaller than the Thoroughbred, averaging between 15-16hh with a marginally longer body and a more sloping hindquarter, both of which facilitate its unmatched ability in harness. The most common colours for the breed are bay or brown, although other colours such as chestnut, black, grey, and roan are also found, along with the tobiano coat pattern.
The breeding and racing of Standardbred horses in Australia is both a dedicated pastime and profession for participants in the industry. The nature of the Standardbred horse means they are able to transition from racing to a wide variety of other disciplines, including dressage, showing, jumping, endurance racing, and therapy horses. The initial preparation phase for training Standardbreds in Australasia consists mainly of jogging the horses at a steady pace for 5-6 weeks with one rest day per week. This phase allows the horse to recover both physically and mentally from the racing season.
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Trotting and pacing gaits
In Australia, harness racing is conducted with Standardbred horses racing around a track while pulling a driver in a two-wheeled cart called a "sulky", "gig", or "bike". Standardbred racehorses compete in two gaits: pacing and trotting. Trotters may enter pacing events, but not vice versa. Pacers contest 80% to 90% of Australian harness races.
Trotting is a symmetrical gait, with the two legs diagonally opposite each other moving forward together. It is faster than a walk but can be maintained for a lot longer than a full gallop, making it ideal for covering long distances at a steady pace. The trot includes a suspension phase to keep the needed balance without putting in the effort of using head and neck muscles, and it does not have a single-footed grounding phase. This makes it easy to keep up and maintain the speed and balance needed for working.
Pacing is a lateral two-beat gait, with the two legs on the same side of the horse moving forward together. Pacers are faster than trotters on average, though horses are raced at both gaits. A slow pace can be relatively comfortable, as the rider is lightly rocked from side to side. A slightly uneven pace that is somewhere between a pace and an amble is the sobreandando of the Peruvian Paso.
The fox trot is most often associated with the Missouri Fox Trotter breed, but it is also seen under different names in other gaited breeds. The fox trot is a four-beat diagonal gait in which the front foot of the diagonal pair lands before the hind. The same footfall pattern is characteristic of the trocha, pasitrote, and marcha batida seen in various South American breeds.
In addition to the trot and pace, there are two other main categories of gaits: the "'natural' gaits" that most horses will use without special training, and the "'ambling' gaits" that are various smooth-riding, four-beat footfall patterns that may appear naturally in some individuals.
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Race distances
Harness racing in Australia involves Standardbred horses racing around a track while pulling a driver in a two-wheeled cart called a "sulky", "gig", or "bike". The race distances vary, typically ranging from 1,609 metres (1 mile) to 2,650 metres. Some races, such as the A G Hunter Cup, are even longer. The race length is influenced by the type of track, which can vary in size, typically measuring between 700 and 1,000 metres.
The sport features two types of gaits: trotting and pacing. Trotting involves the horse moving its legs forward in diagonal pairs, while pacing involves lateral movements with both sides of the horse's legs moving together. Pacers make up the majority of competitors in Australian harness racing, constituting 80% to 90% of the races. This dominance of pacers is due in part to their faster speeds and lower likelihood of breaking stride.
The Inter Dominion is a major harness racing competition held between horses from Australia and New Zealand. Notable horses in this competition include Blacks A Fake, a four-time winner, and Our Sir Vancelot (NZ), the first horse to win three successive championships.
Races can begin with a motorized starting gate or a standing start. The motorized starting gate involves horses lining up behind a hinged gate mounted on a moving motor vehicle, which then leads them to the starting line. In a standing start, tapes or imaginary lines are used, and horses may stand stationary or trot in circles in pairs to reach the starting line together.
The race industry in Australia has implemented safety precautions for harness racing. These include the use of helmets and body protectors for drivers, safety disks covering the wheels' spokes, and rules formulated with safety in mind.
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Harness racing tracks
Harness racing in Australia involves Standardbred horses racing around a track while pulling a driver in a two-wheeled cart called a "sulky", "gig", or "bike". The horses compete in two gaits: pacing and trotting. Pacers make up 80% to 90% of Australian harness races, and trotters may enter pacing events but not vice versa. Races are conducted in an anti-clockwise direction and typically range in distance from 1,609 metres (1 mile) to 2,650 metres, though some races are longer. The length of harness racing tracks typically measures from 700 to 1,000 metres.
Races often take place at night, with many major metropolitan meetings held on Friday and Saturday evenings. One notable race track is TABcorp Park Menangle, where Our Waikiki Beach's 19-race winning streak ended on July 5, 2016, when he was beaten by Ideal Situation in a mile-rate of 1:52.8. Another notable track is Harold Park, named in honour of Childe Harold, a stallion who produced superior quality trotters.
Races typically start from behind a motorized gate, also known as a mobile barrier, with horses lining up behind a hinged gate mounted on a moving motor vehicle, which then leads them to the starting line. Another type of start is a standing start, where horses stand flat-footed behind tapes or imaginary lines across the track. This type of start is used in many European, Australian, and New Zealand races, although it increases the chance of a false start.
In Australia, an open lane system is used, referred to as a sprint lane, whereas in New Zealand, it is called a 'passing lane'. These lanes do not operate on all tracks and have been a point of contention in the industry. Modern starting gates in Australia include Auto Start, allowing the starter to focus on the horse's positioning during the "score up". The start speed, acceleration, score up distance, and gate closing are controlled via a computer system.
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Racing administration
Harness racing in Australia is administered by Harness Racing Australia (HRA), formerly known as the Australian Harness Racing Council. Each state's Principal Racing Authority agrees to enforce the rules and regulations of harness racing.
Races are conducted on tracks that typically measure from 700 to 1,000 metres. The horses run in an anti-clockwise direction over distances from 1,609 metres (1 mile) to 2,650 metres, although some races are longer.
Races are usually held at night, with many major metropolitan meetings taking place on Friday and Saturday nights. Modern starting gates in Australia include Auto Start, which allows the starter to focus on the horse's positioning. The start speed, acceleration, score-up distance, and gate closing are controlled by a computer system.
Races can be conducted in two gaits: trotting and pacing. Trotting is when the horse moves its legs forward in diagonal pairs, while pacing is when the horse moves its legs laterally. Pacers contest 80% to 90% of Australian harness races, and they are faster than trotters.
Safety precautions are important in harness racing. For example, drivers must wear helmets and body protectors, and wheels must have safety discs covering the spokes. Most rules are formulated with safety in mind.
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Frequently asked questions
Harness horse races in Australia are generally between 1,609 metres (1 mile) and 2,650 metres. However, some races are run over longer distances, such as the A G Hunter Cup.
There are two types of harness horse races in Australia: pacing and trotting. Pacers make up 80% to 90% of Australian harness races, and trotters can also enter pacing events.
Most harness horse races in Australia start from behind a motorized starting gate or a mobile barrier. Horses line up behind a hinged gate mounted on a moving motor vehicle, which then leads them to the starting line. Another type of start is a standing start, where horses stand stationary or trot in circles behind tapes or imaginary lines across the track.
