Horse racing has a long tradition. In Munich, the story begins with horse racing on the Theresienwiese. The races are so-called breeding performance tests and thus serve to breed and preserve the English Thoroughbred breed. To finance these performance tests, the legislature has granted the racing clubs the right to accept bets on the participating horses. These bets are settled in the totalizator (Toto).
Contrary to what many people think, there is no fixed dress code for visiting the racecourse. A casual, leisure look is just as acceptable as a smart dress or suit. Everyone should wear what they feel comfortable in. On average, 8 out of 10 visitors come to the race days in their usual everyday clothes. Exceptions are the more highly-prized classic races and the Group I races. Here, the styling is often more lavish and the ladies present the odd hat or fascinator. Hats are optional, but not compulsory. It is a widespread misconception that hats are inseparably linked with a visit to the racecourse. Although no hat wearer has to feel out of place, you don’t have to style yourself like the Queen at Ascot either.
A race lasts between one and three minutes, depending on the distance of the race. It is best to arrive half an hour before the first race to see the horses being saddled and circling in the parade ring.
You can buy a race program at the box office or at the kiosk. In it you will find all the starting fields and additional information about the horses’ racing performance.
For the horses, race day begins at the saddle area. Here, too, you can be there and get your first glimpse of the starters of the respective race. As soon as all the horses are saddled, the horses are brought into the walking ring. The walking ring is one of the most important places on a race track. You experience everything up close: the horses, the jockeys, trainers and owners. The horses are shown to the audience at a walk. You can watch everything: Is “my” horse sweating? Is its hair shiny? Are its ears pricked up. After weighing, the jockeys also come from the scales into the walking ring to receive the final instructions from the trainers. After the jockeys have mounted, the horses are ridden to the starting machine on the race track. This is the signal for you to look for a place with a good view of the finishing straight. The starting machine is placed according to the distance. When all the horses have entered the starting machine, the race starts. After the race, the horses are taken from the track between our stands to the unsaddling area, where they are given water and can be showered on warm days. The jockeys go back to the weigh-in with their saddles. If the race management has no complaints, the horses are allowed to return to their stables and the winning jockey, trainer and owners are duly celebrated at the awards ceremony.
Distances
There are different distances in horse racing. In Munich, races are advertised from 1,000 to 2,800 meters. Depending on the distance, the starting point moves, but the finish is always at the same place. The Riemer track has a special feature: a 1,000-meter straight. 1,000 meters are rarely advertised, but when there is a 1,000-meter race, visitors have the pleasure of experiencing the racehorses even closer, because then the jockeys orient themselves more towards the outside rails, in other races more towards the inside rails.
Weighing
The jockeys are weighed before and after the race. In order to equalize the chances of the horses in a race, the jockeys carry different weights depending on the ability of their horse.
Starting Machine
In horse racing, the horse starts from a starting machine. Each horse is assigned a starting box. The starting number is not the same as the starting box. You can find both pieces of information in the race program. Shortly after all the horses have moved into their starting boxes, the doors at the front open and the start has taken place.
False Start
If the start is affected by an incident, for example the starting boxes being opened incorrectly due to a technical defect, the starter can call the jockeys back. To do this, he uses a siren, a flashing light placed along the track and the flag of the recall officer – who is stationed along the track.
Horse racing is only held for the entertainment of people and is therefore cruelty to animals” – this is not actually the case. Horse racing is a so-called breeding performance test and is therefore an important part of preserving the English Thoroughbred breed. Even on the way to a career as a racehorse, emphasis is placed on the appropriate care and health of the horses.
Every breed develops at a different rate. The English Thoroughbred is one of the breeds where the horses develop earlier/quicker. Nevertheless, all horses are examined by a vet before they start training. The horses are only allowed to start training after an analysis by specially trained vets. A further examination is then carried out before the first start in life. Here, too, the health of the horses takes priority and only horses that the vet has classified as fit to start are actually allowed to start. A so-called standing start test is also carried out before the first start. This tests whether the horses can go into the starting machine, stand relaxed in the starting machine and finally, as in a race, start from the machine.
The Munich Racing Club places great value on keeping horses in a way that is appropriate to their species. In Munich-Riem, the trainers have access to large boxes, paddocks and pastures. In addition to training, the horses can also be moved in horse walkers. What the training plans look like is ultimately up to the trainers. Some trainers also have a treadmill for the horses.
The German gallop has strict rules on the use of whips in races. The quality of the whip is also regulated. For example, it is coated in a “shock absorbing” way (with an air cushion). Here you can find more detailed information on the use of whips as well as an excerpt from the racing regulations on this topic.
A zero-tolerance policy applies in German horse racing, both on race days and during training. Horses that require medication cannot take part in races. All medication must be entered in a medication book. If a horse is given a medication that is not on the doping list, but is not entered on the list, this is already considered a doping offense. Horse racing in Germany has the strictest anti-doping regulations in the world in the field of equestrian sport.
What happens to racehorses after their careers? There are actually various options that can give the horses a good life even years after their careers.
Stallions and mares naturally have a good chance of being used for breeding. Whether in the classic thoroughbred breeding or as “refiners” in warmblood breeding to incorporate characteristics such as speed or endurance. The English thoroughbred is very versatile. This means that a sporting career can also be continued away from the racetrack. The English thoroughbred is a loyal partner, especially in eventing but also in show jumping. The unique character of the gallopers also makes them very suitable as leisure horses.
On the German Galopp website you will find a number of organisations that support racehorses after their careers. So if you are looking for a friend for life, you will certainly find one here!
The fact that horse betting exists in its current form goes back to the Racing Betting and Lotteries Act of 1922.
Together with the Animal Breeding Act, this Racing Betting Tax Act regulates what today’s horse racing and betting is originally about: the self-financing of the performance tests of thoroughbred horses.
How to Bet
Horse betting is easy. Four standard types of bets (win, place, double and treble) are available at all German racecourses.
For most people, taking part in them is more than just an attempt to win money. It’s also about being proven right, it’s an exciting game. How to win, which method is the best, is something people have been asking themselves for 200 years. You have to choose the right method for you, but choose one!
You can follow a particular rider or trainer, the offspring of particular stallions. You can also rely on your eye to examine the horses. If you are less technical, you can also bet on all chestnuts or only on those that have white hoofed or booted legs. You can generally rely on your favorite number, your date of birth or your house number.
You can also work out your tips with the help of the Turf racing program, taking into account the horses’ recent performances, the condition of the track, and their real or even perceived suitability for the race track and distance.
You can do all of this and more, and it will also give you a sense of achievement that you will be happy about. You should celebrate and enjoy this, according to the motto “betting is relaxation through excitement”.
You can also work out your tips with the help of the Turf racing program, taking into account the horses’ recent performances, the condition of the track, and their real or even perceived suitability for the race track and distance.
You can do all of this and more, and it will also give you a sense of achievement that you will be happy about. You should celebrate and enjoy this, according to the motto “betting is relaxation through excitement”.
Combination bets are where things get really interesting: the more complicated the constructs, the higher the odds. The simplest combination bets include place twins and double bets.
With a double place bet, you bet on two horses that must finish in the top three. The order in which they finish is not important. If, however, you opt for a double bet, you must correctly predict which horses will finish in first and second place. The order in which they finish is also important.
Place twin and double bets are moderately difficult to hit, but offer interesting odds. The highest odds, however, are offered by three- and four-way bets. The three or four horses placed in front must be tipped in the correct order. This level of risk pays off: the stakes are highest here, but so are the winnings.
If you don’t want to take that much risk, it’s better to opt for a combination bet: This basically combines individual bets, e.g. on place or victory in the respective race, in one bet.
The aim of the double bet is to correctly predict two starters who will finish first and second. However, it is not enough to name the two starters – you also have to get the order of arrival at the finish line right.
Basically, the double bet is nothing other than an extended win bet: in addition to the race winner, you also have to name the horse that will finish second.
The probability of landing such a hit is considered to be relatively low. The associated odds and winnings are correspondingly high.
With a three-way bet, you bet on the three starters that will cross the finish line first. It is important to remember that it is not enough to correctly predict the three starters – the order in which they arrive at the finish line must also be correct for the bet to be considered a win. The betting slip must therefore state exactly which three horses will cross the finish line first and what place they will take.
Four-way bets are extremely difficult to make: The aim is to predict the first four horses in a race in the correct order. Due to their difficulty, the four-way bet offers by far the highest odds – but also the highest risk of loss. The four-way bet is not offered in every race.
Odds
The odds are always given with a divisor of 10. 50:10 means that if you bet €10 you will get €50 paid out. They are calculated from the total stake of a bet. The more you bet on a horse, the lower the odds.
After the riders have been weighed, the judges’ final verdict is announced, acoustically marked by the weighing bell. Please always keep your betting slip until the final verdict is announced by the track announcer, as the results may still be changed by the race management (e.g. disqualifications).
Betting is prohibited for persons under 18 years of age.
How the betting business works
Today, betting is carried out on all major railways using the electronic toto system. This saves time and money and ensures correct processing.
Physically, you can imagine the Toto as a computer system with two mutually controlling computers plus an emergency power generator. All betting counters on the track are connected and the whole thing is linked to an external central computer, which also brings the “pre-bets” – that is, the bets made at betting offices outside the track – into play.
The basic principle is that the bettor fills out his or her own ticket and hands it in at one of the cash desks. There it is then read and stamped by a computer terminal.
Win and place bets can also be announced at any cash desk.
The German Galopp is the umbrella and breeding association of German horse racing. On the German Galopp website you will find all the important information about horse racing in Germany and German horse racers abroad. Whether dates, results or the topic of animal welfare: almost all questions are answered.
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