Harness racing
The Trotting ( harness racing ) is a variant of horse racing . Only the trot gait is allowed. The trotting sport took and continues to have a considerable influence on horse breeding . The trotter owes its breeding primarily to the requirements of the racetrack. Horse racing is also permitted in harness racing and high prizes are awarded, which sometimes lead to negative side effects ( doping , bribery , etc.).
Trotting is widespread especially in Europe and the USA.
Harness racing
Trotting races in Germany and Austria are now not only driven in sulky , but also increasingly ridden . Trotting (courses au trot monté) has long been common in French trotting .
The trotting races are designed for distances of 1,600 m, 1,760 m, 1,900 m, 2,100 m and 2,300 m and are completed on both sand tracks (some with plastic admixture) and grass tracks.
Proposition (tender)
In this, the future races for which the trainers can register their horses are announced. The following data are given: race number, endowment euros, age limit, money limit euros, distance.
Examples:
10, 1,200, 5–14, free handicap 4,000 to 8,000 who have not won 1,500 euros in at least 4 starts since May 1, 2006, Auto 1760
11, 1,200, 5-14, which are classified in handicap. For every 300 euros in 2006, won 20 m allowance, volume 2100
7, 5,000, 3+, Int. up to 50,000 from 2,140 meters, from 50,001 to 150,000 from 2,160 meters, from 150,001 from 2,180 meters. Racino Overture. 1. Run to the Racino Super Cup. Only horses that have been in Austrian ownership since February 15, 2006 or have been stationed in Magna Racino since February 15, 2006 are allowed to start. Scoring: Winner: 10 points, 2nd place: 6 points, 3rd place: 4 points. 4th place: 3 points, 5th place: 2 points, each started participant 1 point. 2.140, volume kF
Abbreviations:
- 3+ = races for three year olds and older
- 5+ = races for five year olds and older
- A = amateur driving
- Auto = The race will be started by a starting car
- Tape = The race is started from the tapes
- FH = Free handicap
- G = The race is run on the grass runway
- H = handicap
- Int = international race, horses registered abroad are also allowed
- kF = no driver's license
- L = race for professional drivers and apprentices
- N = closing date for entries
- Nat = national race, only horses registered in Germany are allowed
- R = trot riding
- P = private race
- ST = starter specification
- Z = breeding race
Regulations
Europe: The European Trotting Union (UET) regulates all principles in trotting and breeding across Europe. They are written in English and French and are updated annually at the UET General Assembly.
Austria: All matters of harness racing and harness racing in Austria are set out in the Austrian harness racing regulations (ÖTR).
Trotting tracks
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Germany:
Berlin-Mariendorf , Berlin-Karlshorst , Dieburg , Dinslaken , Drensteinfurt , Gelsenkirchen , Hamburg-Bahrenfeld , Heiligendamm , Mönchengladbach , Mühldorf , Munich-Daglfing , Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm , Pfarrkirchen , Saarbrücken-Güdingen, Straubing .
Austria:
A-Bahn: Baden , Vienna-Krieau , Magna Racino Ebreichsdorf
B-Bahn: Altheim , Edelhof, Gröbming , Sankt Johann in Tirol, Wels
C-Bahn: Admont, Bad Ischl, Feldkirchen, Kaprun, Kirchberg in Tirol, Kirchdorf in Tyrol, Kitzbühel, Matrei, Mayrhofen, Mittersill, Saalfelden, St Johann in Tirol, St. Johann / Pongau, Tipschern, Westendorf, Wörgl, Zell an der Pram
In Austria, the headquarters for trotter breeding and racing (Trotter headquarters in Vienna) determines whether a trotting track is an A-track, a B-track or a C-track. For example, an A-runway must be at least 1000 meters long and a B-runway at least 800 meters.
Starting methods
- Ribbon start : The ribbon start is used to let horses of different performance classes compete against each other. The starting field is divided into two or more fields that are 25 or 50 m apart, depending on the difference in performance. In the past, the start was made from a standstill, the fields were separated with rubber bands, which is where the name of the start method comes from. Today you start at a trot or walk, with the fields from areas next to the runway turning (turning) into it.
- The fields are turned from the outside to the inside, i.e. mostly to the right. If a horse is particularly nervous in this direction of rotation, or is difficult to turn to the right, an application can be made to the race management that one may turn left. This participant then comes towards the others within the field.
- To prepare for the start, the race management announces which participant will be judged. This means that all participants should be as fast as this participant and all should align themselves in parallel according to their start number.
- In order to allow the start to take place, the rubber band on one side is released at the same time as a start command and thus clicks away.
- There are also band starts, where horse and rider / driver gather outside the track and prepare, then enter / drive into the main track at the command of the race control, align themselves next to each other in the correct sequence of numbers on the band and then respond to the command "Participant from “start.
- This starting variant offers horses with very different performances and starting sums equal opportunities, because meter specifications are given for horses in the front field.
- Autostart : A vehicle with two lattice wings spread out drives in front of the horses. The vehicle is positioned at a certain meter mark in the middle of the track and the drivers with the horses gather behind this car. When the start takes place, the car starts moving, the drivers steer their horses behind their start numbers, the vehicle accelerates and the start is released from a certain meter mark. The bars are folded up and the vehicle accelerates very strongly in order to get out of reach of the horses. If more horses start in the race than the starting row of the racetrack allows, a second starting row is opened.
Starter car with wings extended
Starter car with folded wings
- Flying start : Similar to the car start , the participants prepare in a certain circle start area and then start without a car on command.
Special races
- Maiden race : Horses that have not yet won a race take part in this race.
- Vintage race: This race is only contested by horses from the same vintage.
- Breeding races : Same as year- old races , only with a higher grant. These two age groups (three and four year olds, five and six year olds) can also be combined in one race.
- Handicap race : For horses that are classified in a free handicap.
- Amateur races : No professionals are allowed in this race.
- Two -seater races: Are driven in two-seater sulkys to give guest drivers who have no previous knowledge of trotting, a live insight into the racing.
- Private races: Are races that are organized outside of the harness racing club (mostly company events).
- Trotter Derby : It is considered the most important race in German trotting and takes place every year on the Berlin Trotting Track in Mariendorf .
- Sledge races : are mostly completed on provincial railways. Instead of the sulky, a sledge is used to drive on the snow.
disqualification
Horses that gallop (technically: "jump", "jump", "jump in") will be disqualified . In Germany this is announced to the driver as " disqualification red ". But also an impure gait, three strikes in which three legs are in the air or on the ground at the same time, or the gait pass is punished by the race management or the finish judge, in this case " disqualification blue " is announced. In Austrian the judge's verdict is called “ dis gallop ” or “ dis impure gait ”.
Punish
Every rider or rider receives a fine for violating the regulations. For example, for incorrect driving in the run-in or too frequent use of the whip, obstruction of a competitor, violation of the starting rules, irregular filing of a complaint, wrong racing colors, etc. Owners can also receive fines, e.g. B. because of not bringing the vaccination certificate.
In the case of particularly serious violations, there may even be a driving ban (for a limited period).
Judgment
The judge will decide how well a horse or the first five horses have won. The distances are given as follows: nose (N), short head (kK), head (K), neck (H) and length (L). In the past there was also the term while , which corresponded to more than 10 lengths. If two or more horses reach the finish line at the same time, it is called a dead race . The judgment also includes an evaluation (superior, easy, safe, fight).
Horses
The age of a racehorse is always increased by one year on January 1st of each year.
Abbreviation for horses in the racing newspapers: Example: 4 years. east. br. St.
- St. = mare
- H. = stallion
- W. = gelding
- br. = brown
- dbr. = dark brown
- F. = fox
- df. = Dark chestnut
- R. = black
- Sch. = Mold
- east. = Austrian
- German = German
Approval for races
- Brand : Nowadays it is made with dry ice as a cold burn on the neck - usually under the mane comb - of the horse. Year of birth of the horse (e.g. 06) and serial number. Since transponder chips are implanted in Germany, cold firing is unusual. The transponder code of the chip (usually the right side of the horse's neck) is entered in the equine passport (mandatory in Germany) by the veterinarian.
- Verification : The young horse is verified by veterinarians from the central office ("headquarters") or the racing clubs. The chip number is read out using a reader and compared with the data in the equine passport. This ensures that a horse does not start under a false name.
- Qualification : Before a horse can be admitted to a race, it must qualify - both for races in sulky and for trot riding. In Germany the trotter has to run under 1: 25.0 min to one kilometer in order to be admitted to the races. Qualifications can be repeated at will. If a trotter has not started for more than 6 months, it must also qualify. In Austria, two-year-old horses on A-tracks require a minimum qualification mark of 1:27, three and four year old faster marks, five year old and older horses e.g. B. 1:23.
- Qualification for trot riding : In Austria, the horse must achieve at least a kilometer time of 1:25 in a qualifying ride.
- Test run : Horses that have not started for a long time or you want to test the level of training of an animal under real conditions can go for a test run. This is similar to a qualification, but participation in a test run does not necessarily mean a qualification.
Performance classification according to the winnings
The winning amount (= starting amount) results from the amounts won by the horse.
- Open races : races with normal starting sum calculation.
- Handicap races: For horses that have little or no chance in the open races, handicap races have been developed to prevent the "horse wear and tear" from becoming too great.
- Free handicap : Horses rated as roughly equivalent by the handicapper for a race, mostly band start races.
In Austria, a quarter of the winnings for mares are not counted towards the “starting amount”. In breeding races in Austria only half of the winnings are counted towards the starting amount.
Time output
The kilometer time of the horses has improved more and more through targeted breeding, better training, more nutrient-rich feeding, better psychological care, etc.
A kilometer time of 1: 20.2 means that the horse ran an average of one minute and 20.2 seconds at 1,000 meters (1 km).
Breeder premiums
The breeder of a horse receives a certain percentage of the winnings for the entire life of the bred horse if it wins or is placed in a race. In harness racing, the first five horses to enter are placed.
equipment
A trotter's equipment consists of many utensils. In the race, additional aids such as martingales , rubber bells or gaiters are used, which should lead to more trot safety, speed and maintenance of the horse's health.
Dishes and related items
- The harness consists of selett, breastplate, waist belt and tail strap.
- Jockstrap : Some stallions need a jockstrap because they don't open their testicles while running and that hurts them. It is attached to the harness.
- Spriders : Are used to move the foot of the horse's leg outwards.
- Head Bar : Used to keep the horse from bending its neck in one direction.
Spriders
Head bar
Bridle and lines
- The racing snaffle, which can be freely selected from all bridles , is supported by an overcheck that holds the horse's head high and offers the horse more trot security .
- Aperture bridle with half-shells : are attached to the harness of the horse and provide a privacy screen that is about half the field of view of the horse covers
- Dazzle bridle with quarter-shells : be attached to the bridle of the horse and provide a privacy screen that covers about a quarter of the field of view of the horse
- Sand protection eyes : This piece of textile is attached to the bridle over the horse's eyes. The horse looks as if through a screen, but the sand cannot get on the horse's eyes. Some horses do not like it when the sand thrown up by the horse in front splashes on their foreheads or in their eyes. You then keep too much distance from the person in front or fall far behind at all. They also avoid overtaking a horse in front if they are "sandy".
- Sand protection mouth : A kind of half lattice muzzle is placed over the horse's nostrils and attached to the bridle. Same purpose as sand protection eyes. This sand protection is not permitted on most racetracks, as it is about 2–3 cm in front of the horse's nose and could thus falsify the race result.
- Pull roller : is attached under the horse's throat and prevents the horse from pulping
- Spiked reins: A piece of leather with riveted spikes is attached to the left or right on the inside of the reins at the height of the horse's neck. This is to prevent the horse from bending in that direction. They are banned in Germany, but are z. B. used in France for trot riding.
- Ear cap : is either placed under the bridle and is fixed for the entire race or is placed over the bridle and can be "pulled" if necessary using a thin cord attached to the two tips of the bonnet and next to the driver on the sulky. There are earmuffs that have no rubber coating on the inside and so the horse can hear through, as if through a thick fabric. With the earmuffs with the rubber coating on the inside, you don't hear much of the hectic racing.
- Earplugs : These foam balls are put into the horse's ears before the race and are to be pulled when necessary.
- Tongue band : Horses that put the tongue over the bridle and thus avoid the action of the bit, the tongue is often tied to the lower jaw. This only happens for the duration of the race and is done with a soft band or a nylon stocking.
- Martingale : same effect as conventional martingale
- Spring reins : Effect like normal spring reins.
- Climbing lines : are double lines that are connected by cross straps at certain intervals and therefore resemble a ladder. The driver has particularly good (counter) hold with these lines.
Ear hood to pull
Foam rubber ear plugs
Earplugs pulled
Half-shell hood
Quarter cup bridle
Tongue strap
legs
- Rubber bells (in different strengths and therefore weights): 1. Protection of the horse's ball when the horse's rear legs often hit the front legs, 2. Weighting of the front legs so that the horse's leg gets more momentum
- Gaiters : Protection of the horse's legs in case the horse's hooves brush against its own legs at high speeds.
- Tendon protectors: 1. Protection of the horse's legs if the horse's hooves brush against its own legs at high speeds. 2. Support and protection of the tendons.
- Flat caps : Protection of the horse's joint if the horse's hooves brush against its own legs at high speeds.
- Knee straps : are internally padded plastic shells, like gaiters, and are attached to the inside of the front knee. They are used to protect the pastern joint (= front knee) if the horse's hooves brush against the joint due to the high speed swing.
fitting
Trotters sometimes have special aluminum horseshoes that are much lighter than conventional horseshoes . There are also many special horseshoes for trotters to accelerate or brake the footing, to influence the position of the hooves and joints or to put weight on different places so that the swing is strengthened there in the fast movement. Examples: mushroom irons, closed irons, wedge irons, etc.
Sulky
- Side bars : They are attached to the sulky and are used to straighten the horse or to correct the horse's track if it pushes to the left or right. The driver presses the bar (s) against the horse's body with his lower legs in order to correct it.
Driver / rider, trainer
Every driver has to acquire a driving license and every rider a riding license. For this purpose, teaching units have to be attended, exams have to be taken and five races have to be completed with the driving license, which are particularly observed by the race management. The license has to be redeemed from year to year.
As adjustment, white trousers, a colored top, proper shoes, gloves and a helmet are required.
The trainer can be the driver / rider at the same time, but does not have to be. It also happens that trainers hire drivers who are particularly good at handling a particular horse. Every horse has to be named by a trainer's stable so that it can start.
Amateur drivers are allowed to race, but not for commercial purposes. Professional drivers must complete a three-year training as a horse manager with a focus on trotting.
Typical injuries in harness racing
Horses
Missteps are caused by tiredness of the horse and consequent inattention in the gait, as well as by a possibly wrong shoe that changes the movements in the wrong speed. These missteps have corresponding effects on tendons, joints or the bones.
Driving or riding too tightly also carries the risk of injury from missteps, which can occur in the hind legs of the horse in front or on the wheels of the front sulky.
To protect the horse's front legs and to prevent accidents, plastic washers cover the inside and outside of the spokes of all sulky wheels. Thus, the horse's leg, which would otherwise have risen into the spokes, slides off.
So-called "knee bats" are horses whose front hooves graze the inside of the opposite front knee when walking faster and cause injuries such as swellings and / or open wounds through this repeated striking.
If left untreated, such swellings can harden and the horse's front knees keep their enlarged shape over time. However, the horse or its movements are not impaired by such hardening.
In order to protect the front knees from the blows of the shod hooves, so-called knee gaiters (also called knee bands) are attached.
Falls occur occasionally.
For example, horses fall that lose their consciousness because they are challenged beyond their performance limits and their cycle collapses.
Even if the rider kinks the horse's windpipe through constant and powerful counteraction of the pulling horse, the horse can lose consciousness during the race and fall to the ground.
Falls rarely occur because sulkies get caught in one another.
Driver / rider
The riders and riders are hardly protected against the injuries typical of falls - both when driving and when riding - since they do not wear any protective clothing other than a helmet
Bets
Up to the start of every horse race are betting accepted. With the totalizator method common in Germany , the odds of a horse are calculated from all the bets on this horse and is therefore not finally fixed until the start of the race, while bookmaker bets with unchangeable odds are particularly common in the Anglo-American region .
- Winner bet : You bet that a certain horse will cross the finish line first.
- Place bet: The horse bet on must run through the finish line as the first, second or third (if there are only a few horses the first or second) horse.
- Place bet : The horse bet on must run through the finish line as the first or second horse. This type of bet is offered on some German harness racing tracks instead of the place bet.
- Entry bet (also: double bet ): The first two horses that cross the finish line must be guessed in the correct order.
- Twin bet: This type of bet has actually been completely replaced by the run-in bet (it may still be played on some racing courses). The difference to the entry bet is that the two horses arriving first can be guessed in any order; the odds are therefore lower than with the entry bet.
- Triple bet : You have to guess the first three horses in the correct order.
- Place twins bet : two selected horses must finish in the top three. The order doesn't matter. This bet is almost only offered in horse races .
- Four- bet : the first four horses in the correct order must be guessed. This type of bet is particularly attractive on race days with a low number of visitors (and correspondingly few potential winners) due to the usually high guarantee payout.
- Super 6 bet : The winning horses must be bet in six races from specially marked races on a race day.
- Finish bet : The winning horses of several consecutive (in Germany earlier the last three) races on a race day must be guessed. This bet was largely abandoned due to a lack of demand in Germany.
Outsiders are horses who, in the opinion of the race management (which also makes the prognoses for every race) and the public, have little chance of winning. Since these horses often have a high quota, they bring a comparatively high profit if they do place or win.
criticism
In order to accelerate the pace of the horses during the race, “plugs” (foam balls) are sometimes put in their ears before the race and are connected to the sulky rider by a tape. If these plugs are pulled out of the ears, e.g. B. when entering the home straight, the sudden noise perception should cause an adrenaline rush and thereby cause the horse to increase its speed. However, this method is controversial. "Hoods" also have the same effect. In Austria it is forbidden to pull out the earplugs from 100 m in front of the grandstands for reasons of animal welfare. In Germany, neither earmuffs nor plugs are allowed to be pulled from the home straight (brand!).
An overcheck is used to prevent the horses from “jumping in” .
