Behind the Scenes at the Racetrack

"Where did thoroughbreds come from? Why do they call it a steeplechase? What's the difference between trotting and pacing? Did you know that winning jockeys are weighed before and after a race?" Experienced horsewoman Nikki Tate takes the reader behind the scenes to examine the world of the racetrack. Sections include: The history of horse racing from chariots to chuckwagons; An examination of the racing breeds from thoroughbreds to quarter horses; The role of the trainers, grooms, farriers, track vets, pony riders, outriders, and paddock judges; Care of a horse at the racetrack; Horse equipment; The jockey's training; What goes on in the racing office; How to read the program; How the starting gates work; Drug use and cheating; and A horse's life after the racetrack. An examination of horse racing from a history of the breeds developed for the sport, through training and caring for horses at the track, to the day of the race and beyond.Tate, Nikki is the author of 'Behind the Scenes at the Racetrack ', published 2007 under ISBN 9781554550180 and ISBN 1554550181.