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Your at the finish line - just look at that finishing straight...
Dependant on the preceding weather conditions the state (going) of
the ground can vary from soft to firm and it is the job of the Clerk
of the Course to give the going reports (and to accurately predict
the weather!).
The ideal ground for flat racing is good to firm and in dry and hot
conditions that track will be watered to attempt to ensure good to
firm ground but it is very much at the mercy of the weather.
It takes nine hours and 100,000 gallons of water to water the entire
track and in extremely dry conditions this will be done every day.
In most cases the maximum field size per race
is between 16-20 and the horses with jockeys aboard are loaded one
by one into the Starting Stalls by the Stalls Handlers and as soon
as the last is loaded they are off.
The races vary in distance and it will take them just a minute to
complete a 5 furlong (1000m) race with other races covering distances
of 6 furlongs (1200m), 1 mile (1600m), 1 mile 2 furlongs (2000m),
1 mile 6 furlongs (2800m) and 2 miles (3200m).
All races finish just in front of the stands when the horses speed
past the winning post. |
