What is Harness Racing?

In its essence, harness racing is a form of horse racing. There are a few kinds of horse racing, and in addition to the standard horse racing with horses and jockeys, harness racing is one of the most popular types. True harness racing always includes Standardbred horses who are trained in gait. Horses that are used for harness racing are usually trained in either Pacing or Trotting. The trick in the whole ordeal is that these horses are required to pull a sulky. Inside the sulky, a driver competes with the horse to win a race.

Depending on the part of the world where you live sulky also goes by a few other names. The standard ones include Spider, Bike, Gig, or, most commonly, a Cart. We're talking about an aerodynamically built two-wheeler that is attached to a horse via the saddle. The horse is pulling the sulky, and the driver is steering the cart and the horse from behind. They're designed to achieve maximum speeds so it's no wonder that this type of racing is not too different from standard types that include only horse and jockey.

The majority of you probably know this type of horse racing by the name The Trots. The name is derived from bookies and bettors, as this sport is heavily popular among betting folks who enjoy racing for more than simple horse competition. Just like other types of horse racing, this one is very popular among bettors due to the sheer number of combinations possible and the excitement of the outcomes.

As we mentioned, the types of horses that participate in harness racing are usually Standardbred horses. For all of you unfamiliar with this breed of horses, we're talking about horses bred in America with a goal for them to participate in harness racing. Today it is unknown whether these horses were picked for harness racing due to their ability or their ability was developed for this activity. Most horses are usually trained to compete in either trot or pace. These two gaits are the standard ones that Standardbred horses get trained in.

What Are the Key Differences Between Pacers and Trotters?

As you could probably guess the difference is in the gait. A Pacer moves differently. We're talking about a two-beat lateral gait. If you focus on the forelegs, you will see that with a pacer, they move in unison with the same pair of legs on the same side. You will recognize a pacer movement simply by looking at the unison between the foreleg and the nearside hind leg. The togetherness of movement goes for the foreleg and the offside leg, too. To get the picture of what we're talking about you need to Google a picture of a harness racing horse pacing. It will be immediately visible how both the front and rear legs move synchronously and that the nearside legs are looking for perfect unison. You will also recognize Pacers by their equipment. The gear they wear is called Hopples. We're talking about the loops attached to horses the driver uses to guide the horse through the racetrack.

A trotter is a different type of beast. It is the second type of gait you'll encounter with harness racing. Here, the horse legs are moved in diagonal patterns. To get what we're talking about look at the front nearside leg of the horse and the hind offside leg. Both move together and, in a perfect collision, hit the ground simultaneously. As you can see in both examples, these are not simple horse moves. This is why it's important that horses are well trained and none are better than American Standardbreds.

To sum up, the essential difference is the extra gait present with the Pacers. The trick lies in the genetic components of the horses trained in these unfamiliar gaits. The gait-keeper gene, as it's called, is a known DMTR3 gene mutation, and it's the secret and the genetic basis of these horses.

Another interesting fact is that Pacers are never allowed to race against trotters. On the other hand, the trotters are allowed to participate in pacer races, but even that practice is not all that common despite the lack of limitations. If you dwell deeper into this type of horses and their gait training you'll learn that there are also Dual Gaited horses. These horses are familiar with both gaits and can perform at race speed. Also, what you should know is that all horses start their training as pacers. Later on, those with talent and ability are turned towards trotting. Once their conversion is completed they're permanently switched to trotting and are prepped for racing. Even for horses who have both skills, they are required to be registered as either a pacer or a Trotter.

With everything we said above, you now possess enough knowledge of harness racing and horses that participate in it to be able to put some money into these races. If you're a sports betting fan and want to make harness racing your passion here's how to do it.

Top Harness Racing Betting Markets

By now, if you're even remotely into sports betting, you should know that betting markets are closely tied to odds that show the probability of certain events playing out. If you plan on making harness racing your golden goose here are its betting markets:

• Win - As usual, the simplest of all betting markets. With a win bet, you're placing your money on the race winner. The horse that finishes first is your bet and if you pick the right one, the money is yours.

• Top 2 - A bit more complicated bet. Here, you need to pick two horses. In essence, you're trying to bet on two horses to finish the race placed first and second. There is also a bit of a catch here. You can make your life easier by picking two horses to finish second and first in no particular order. The odds are lower here, but your chances of getting the bet right are higher.

• Place - For all of you looking to guess a spot on which particular horse will finish the race, this is your bet. You pick a horse, and you place a bet on him whether it will finish first, second or third. It is a bit of a diversified bet, but it gives the players more options and provides more fun watching the race with a bet that can help you watch the race relaxed if your horse holds his own at one of the first, second, or third slots.

Betting Tips for Harness Racing

It's only fair that we lay down a few tips on becoming a better bettor regarding harness racing. First of all, you need to get acquainted with the horses that participate in each race. The most important part to compare when checking out horses is their gallop and how well they're handling the turns. Also, you must check out their racing history, as it can tell a tale you want to hear.

Secondly, everyone interested in harness racing betting must learn about trainers and owners. This is essential knowledge. Horses are the most important factor, yes. But it is almost equally important to know the people behind the named horses. Folks who have a nice and successful history of raising fine racehorses should be the ones you're betting on.

Furthermore, just like in any other sport, statistics play a big role. Like any other athlete, horses and their drivers have stats from their previous races. Look into them before every race. Lastly, the world of harness racing is a vivid one. Every day, you have news popping out here and there about horses, races, racetracks, owners, and trainers. Keep up with them for successful future betting.