Thoroughbred Horse Racing Basics
Each country is known to boast different kinds of horse racing. Among all the possible kinds of races thoroughbred horse racing is the one that attracts a lot of attention. The history of thoroughbred races dates back to Greek Olympics. Later in order to improve powers of endurance Arabic horses were bred with European horses. In 17th century horse races became commonly watched in England and later brought to America. Thoroughbred horse racing is opposed to conventional racing. Thoroughbred horse racing is so popular that there are nearly 80 thoroughbred racecourses all over the world while conventional racecourses run up to 30 only.

Thoroughbred horse racing may involve different kinds of competitions, for instance, maiden, claiming, allowance, handicap, stakes. Stakes races are meant for the best thoroughbred horses that qualify for the Triple Crown. Triple Crown of thoroughbred horse racing consists of 3 races for three-year-old horses and it is claimed to be the biggest accomplishment to win all the three races.

In US the names of these three races are the following: Kentucky Derby (run for 2.01 km), Preakness Stakes (1.91 km) and Belmont Stakes (2.41 km). The last time a horse has won the Triple Crown in 1978.

In United Kingdom the three races include Guineas Stakes (run for 1.609 km), Epsom Derby (2.423 km) and St. Leger Stakes (2.937 km). UK horse racing recollects only 15 horses that have ever won the English Triple Crown for 150 years.

Basically thoroughbred horse racing has two forms: jump racing and flat racing each of which requires certain kind of layout of the horse racing track. The bodies that govern the competitions are to settle those standards they consider to be appropriate that is why conditions of thoroughbred horse racing may differ from one racing track to another.