We all have at least a passing familiarity with thoroughbred racing, since the three largest events in thoroughbred racing are televised every year. These three events are known as the Thoroughbred Triple Crown and are comprised of the Kentucky Derby, the Belmont Stakes and the Preakness.

All three of the Thoroughbred Triple Crown races have one thing in common: the track which is used for the race. All three are run on a flat dirt track. Horses in the Triple Crown will usually pace themselves until near the finish, saving a surge of incredible speed in the effort to win the race. However, some horses have had so much speed that they have held the starting position from the second they came out of the gate until the finish line!

What many spectators to these races do not realize is that this is only one type of Thoroughbred horse racing that is available and while these races are the most popular Thoroughbred horse races, there are other forms of Thoroughbred horseracing that are popular as well.

Turf racing is another popular variation on Thoroughbred racing. The distinction between these races and other Thoroughbred races is that they are run on grass rather than dirt, though everything else about the races remains the same.

The Thoroughbreds that run on the turf course will still run the same distances as the horses that race on the dirt surfaces. The only main difference between racing on the dirt course and racing on the turf course are the terms that are used to describe certain aspects of the races. For example, there are different terms that are used to describe the condition of the dirt course and the turf course. A dirt course that is listed as fast is the equivalent to a turf course that is listed as firm.

Thoroughbred horse racing has other variations; such as steeplechases, where horses have to run the race while jumping over fences which are placed on the racecourse. These races are more difficult for jockeys and horses ? but are nothing less than thrilling to fans.

On a flat race course, speed is the primary factor which is needed. Steeplechases, by contrast require the horse to have a great deal of stamina and the jockey to have some skills ? the jockey must know the right time to tell the horse to jump in order to clear the fences. The number of jumps which will be needed is dependent on the length of the race course in this variation on Thoroughbred horse racing.