Harness racing is a form of horse racing where the horses don’t gallop like they do in the Kentucky Derby or other traditional races. Feel free to play on best betting sites Ireland offered by 1xBet, where big horse racing events are featured.
Instead, they trot or pace while pulling a two-wheeled cart called a “sulky,” with a driver sitting behind them. Imagine it like a chariot race, but a bit more modern and laid-back. This style of racing is especially popular in countries like:
- USA;
- Canada;
- Australia;
- New Zealand;
- and many parts of Europe.
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A few aspects of this sport
There are 2 types of harness racing: trotters and pacers. Trotters move their legs in diagonal pairs: right front with left hind, and left front with right hind. Pacers, on the other hand, move both legs on one side of their body in unison. Pacers are usually faster and account for about 80-90% of all harness races in North America. Besides wagering on horse racing events, you can also start betting on golf tournaments at the 1xBet website.
Now, the horses themselves are a specific breed known as Standardbreds. These horses are built differently than thoroughbreds. They have stronger, longer legs and a more muscular body, making them ideal for the unique gait required in harness racing. The 1xBet website allows you to start betting on the best tournaments of golf and of horse racing too.
Fun fact: Standardbreds got their name because they had to meet a “standard” speed for a mile to be registered. These days, the top harness racing horses can cover a mile (1.6 km) in just under 1 minute and 50 seconds.
A sport with many followers
Harness racing might not be as well-known as thoroughbred racing, but it’s got a pretty solid following. Visit now the http://1xbet.ie/en/line/horse-racing website to wager and follow these kinds of events too.
In the U.S., harness racing generates about $1 billion annually in wagers. That’s not too shabby, considering the whole global horse racing industry pulls in around $116 billion. One of the biggest events in the U.S. is the Hambletonian, which has been held since 1926. The prize money (known as the “purse”) for this event alone is over $1 million. If you want to win with horse racing, your best choice is to visit the 1xBet website.
Over in Australia, there are over 900 harness races a year, with the biggest events attracting crowds of around 20,000 people. And in Sweden, the Elitloppet, held every year at Solvalla Racetrack in Stockholm, is the highlight of the harness racing calendar, drawing over 50,000 fans from around the world.
