The Race

In the UK before a race begins the clerk of the course will inspect the track and announce the conditions. This is important to know when you are assessing potential winners of the race.

Just before the race starts the starter will raise his flag to signify the race is about to begin. The starting stalls or line can be at different places on the track depending on the length of the race. The commentator will announce "there under starter's orders", then once the starter is happy that all the horses are ready, he will begin the race. At this point no more bets can be taken and a bell will ring to signify this. You will then hear the commentators over the courses loud speaker system. The horses can be quite a long way from where you sit so unless you have binoculars with you then this is the only way you will know how your horse is doing. There are course stewards who watch the action during the race in case there is some infringement. As the horses reach the finish line a photograph is taken. This is in case the race is very close and it is not easy to see which positions the horses have finished. If it is close the photograph is looked at by the stewards to determine who has won the race.

After the race has finished the winning and placed horses go to the winner's enclosure. The jockeys then go to be weighed and if there has been no infringements during the race then the result will be announced and you are able to pick up your winnings. If there has been a problem with how the race was run a stewards enquiry will take place and the final result may be changed. Only after this has been resolved and the final result announced are you able to pick up your winnings.