When you’re studying the card for a day’s racing, you’ll notice that there’s an array of different race types going on.
Understanding these classifications – and the horses that are eligible to run in them – will undoubtedly assist you in your betting, helping you to identify those that are stepping up/down in class or attempting a new discipline for the first time.
Any National Hunt meeting throughout the season is liable to have different types of racing on its card, so it makes sense to know what to expect from the action.
What is a Juvenile in Horse Racing?
A juvenile is almost the equivalent of a youth team footballer getting a taste of action with the senior side.
A juvenile is a horse that is either two-years-old on the Flat, three for jumps races taking place between October and December, or four for renewals held between January and April.
Juveniles are, by their nature, young horses that can be described as ‘green’ and inexperienced, taking their first steps in racing and experiencing crowds, the parade ring and the like for the first time.
Juvenile races can have a field consisting of horses of different ages, in theory – this may make a difference to their physical dimensions, so it’s worth taking a look at juveniles in the ring, where possible, before placing your bets.
What is a Novice in Horse Racing?
A novice is a horse that had not won a race at the start of the current season. So, a horse remains a novice for the entirety of that campaign – even if they do win at some point during it.
That helps to explain why you can see some high-class horses competing in novice races at the Cheltenham Festival and the like – they would have been a novice at the start of the season, even if they have become winning machines in the months since.
Novice hurdles are open to those that have never won over the smaller obstacles, while novice chases are the same for those over the larger fences – a horse can be a prolific winner over hurdles, but still a novice in the chasing sphere. Horses that have started out on the Flat may also transition to novice hurdles as they develop.
A horse will remain a novice until they win – irrespective of age.
What is a Maiden in Horse Racing?
A maiden race is also open to horses that have never won before – giving them all a level playing field, in theory, to clinch that first victory.
Maidens are notoriously difficult to bet on – these are not prolific champions, after all, however you may find clues within a maiden’s form line that suggests they are ready to get off the mark.
A maiden race will typically – but not always – involve younger horses, whose connections are eager to see them climb the ladder towards a better standard of action.
Like a novice, a maiden can actually be any age – of course, older maidens pose more problems for punters given that they’ve had ample opportunities to claim that first win.
What is a Bumper in Horse Racing?
A bumper is an unusual race – it takes place on the Flat but at a National Hunt meeting.
Typically held at the end of a racecard, a bumper is designed for young horses to experience the excitement of a raceday without the added pressure of clearing hurdles or fences.
The idea is they get used to racing under real conditions, and in close proximity to other horses as they would if they were going over obstacles, so it’s a bit of a toe in the water situation.
If a horse does well in a bumper, it may signify that they are almost ready for the real thing.
What is a Steeplechase in Horse Racing?
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The Grand National is, undoubtedly, the most famous example of a steeplechase in racing.
Reserved for experienced campaigners over fences, steeplechases tend to feature a greater variety of obstacles – so as well as ‘plain’ fences, they might include open ditches and water jumps, to name just a few.
Often contested over longer distances, steeplechases are a gruelling test of stamina and jumping ability – punters can find plenty of clues when betting on these races from the field’s previous endeavours over bigger obstacles.
Those capable of lasting the trip and jumping well are the most likely candidates for a steeplechase win, although luck plays a part too, since someone else’s mistake can cost your horse dear in this sort of race.
What is a Cross Country Chase in Horse Racing?
A cross country race harks back to days of yesteryear, when riders would take their horses out over ‘natural’ courses in the countryside or woodland.
The jumps in cross country chases are both traditional fences and natural obstacles, such as hedges, water features and banks.
The course is generally laid out with hedges and flags acting as way-markers, rather than the standard white railings.
The idea is to create an environment that is as natural as possible, despite being pre-planned – hence why the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival is held on a separate track to the rest of the action.