Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic premise – to identify which of two or more horses is the fastest over a set course or distance – has been mostly unchanged since at least classical antiquity.
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait. They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, spider, or chariot occupied by a driver. In Europe, and less frequently in Australia and New Zealand, races with jockeys riding directly on saddled trotters are also conducted.
The Australian and New Zealand punting glossary explains some of the terms, jargon and slang which are commonly used and heard on Australian and New Zealand racecourses, in TABs, on radio, and in the horse racing media. Some terms are peculiar to Australia, such as references to bookmakers, but most are used in both countries.
Harness racing, also colloquially known as trotting or the trots, is a spectator sport in Australia, with significant amounts of money wagered annually with bookmakers and the Totalisator Agency Board (TAB). In Australia there are 90 harness racing tracks, which hold over 1,900 meetings annually. There are approximately 2,900 drivers and 4,000 trainers with about 5,000 Standardbred horses foaled and registered each year.
Harness racing in New Zealand is primarily a professional sport which involves pacing and trotting competitions for Standardbred racehorses. The difference is the horse's gait or running style:
The Norsk Rikstoto is a foundation that supervises parimutuel betting on animal racing in Norway.
Luxbet was an online betting company based in the Northern Territory, Australia. Luxbet was licensed by the Northern Territory Racing Commission and provided racing, sports and novelty betting options which encompass horse racing, harness racing, greyhound racing and feature racing, as well as American football, Australian rules football, baseball, rugby league, soccer matches and tennis. Luxbet offered betting options through telephone, internet and mobile applications.
Leangen Travbane is a harness racing course located at Leangen in Trondheim, Norway. The race course is owned by the Norwegian Trotting Association and its parimutuel betting is handled by Norsk Rikstoto. Through this arrangement it is the only equine tote betting establishment in Trøndelag and Møre og Romsdal.
Bergen Travpark is a harness racing track at Åsane in Bergen, Norway. The course is 1,000 meters (3,300 ft). Owned by Norwegian Trotting Association, its tote betting is handled by Norsk Rikstoto. The venue opened on 15 June 1985.
Biri Travbane is a harness racing track located at Biri in Gjøvik, Norway. The course is 1,000 meters (3,300 ft). Owned by Norwegian Trotting Association, its tote betting is handled by Norsk Rikstoto. The venue opened in 1985.
Bjerke Travbane is a harness racing track located in the Bjerkebanen neighborhood of the Bjerke borough in Oslo, Norway. The course is 1,000 meters (3,300 ft). Owned by Norwegian Trotting Association, its tote betting is handled by Norsk Rikstoto. The venue opened in 1928 and is the busiest harness racetrack in Norway, with 115 racedays in 2012.
Drammen Travbane was a harness racing track located in Drammen, Norway. The course is 800 meters (2,600 ft). Owned by Norwegian Trotting Association, its tote betting is handled by Norsk Rikstoto. The venue opened in 1955 and closed in 2019.
Forus Travbane is a harness racing track located at Forus in Stavanger, Norway. The course is 950 meters (3,120 ft). Owned by Norwegian Trotting Association, its tote betting is handled by Norsk Rikstoto. The venue opened in 1920.
Harstad Travpark is a harness racing track located at Langmoan in Harstad, Norway. The course is 960 meters (3,150 ft). Owned by Norwegian Trotting Association, its tote betting is handled by Norsk Rikstoto. The venue opened in 1995.
Jarlsberg Travbane is a harness racing track located in Tønsberg, Norway. The course is 1,000 meters (3,300 ft). Owned by Norwegian Trotting Association, its tote betting is handled by Norsk Rikstoto. The venue opened in 1935.
Klosterskogen Travbane is a harness racing track located at Klosterskogen in Skien, Norway. The course is 800 meters (2,600 ft). Owned by Norwegian Trotting Association, its tote betting is handled by Norsk Rikstoto.
Momarken Travbane is a harness racing track located at Momarken in Eidsberg, Norway. The course is 1,000 meters (3,300 ft). Owned by Norwegian Trotting Association, its tote betting is handled by Norsk Rikstoto. The venue opened in 1920.
Sørlandets Travpark is a harness racing track located in Kristiansand, Norway. The course is 1,000 meters (3,300 ft). Owned by Norwegian Trotting Association, its tote betting is handled by Norsk Rikstoto. The venue opened on 16 July 1988.
Horse racing in the United States dates back to 1665, which saw the establishment of the Newmarket course in Salisbury, New York, a section of what is now known as the Hempstead Plains of Long Island, New York. This first racing meet in North America was supervised by New York's colonial governor, Richard Nicolls. The area is now occupied by the present Nassau County, New York, region of Greater Westbury and East Garden City. Horse racing remains a popular sport throughout the United States.
Harness racing, is a popular sport in Sweden, with significant amounts of money wagered annually. In Sweden there are 33 harness racing tracks, which hold over 850 meetings annually. There are approximately 3,000 drivers and 6,000 trainers with about 18,000 horses in training.
