A horse length, or simply length, is a
unit of measurement for the length of a
horse from nose to tail, approximately .
Use in horse racing
The length is commonly used in
Thoroughbred horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...
, where it describes the distance between horses in a race. Horses may be described as winning by several lengths, as in the notable example of
Secretariat, who won the
1973 Belmont Stakes
The 1973 Belmont Stakes was the 105th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, held on June 9, 1973. Facing a field of five horses, Secretariat won by 31 lengths, the largest margin of victory in Belmont history, in fron ...
by 31 lengths. In 2013, the
New York Racing Association placed a blue-and-white checkered pole at
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse racing facility in the northeastern United States, located in Elmont, New York, just east of the New York City limits. It was opened on May 4, 1905.
It is operated by the non-profit New York Racin ...
to mark that winning margin; using Equibase's official measurement of a length——the pole was placed from the finish line.
More often, winning distances are merely a fraction of a length, such as half a length. In British horse racing, the distances between horses are calculated by converting the time between them into lengths by a scale of lengths-per-second. The actual number of lengths-per-second varies according to the type of race and the going conditions. For example, in a flat turf race run on good going, a value of six lengths-per-second is used; in a national hunt race on heavy going, where horses are assumed to be moving more slowly, the value is four lengths-per-second.
Other measures
Distances smaller than that are similarly described in reference to the equine body with terms such as a "neck",
and a "head", a "short head" or "nose", the smallest possible named advantage by which a horse can win. In Ireland a margin of more than 30 lengths is described as a "distance". In the United Kingdom, the maximum recognised distance is 99 lengths, with anything over this being referred to as "99+ lengths". In France the term "short neck" is used for a margin intermediate between a head and a neck.
Harness race finishing margins are typically measured in meters.
Other uses
These terms are used in other disciplines of
equestrianism
Equestrianism (from Latin , , , 'horseman', 'horse'), commonly known as horse riding (Commonwealth English) or horseback riding (American English), includes the disciplines of riding, Driving (horse), driving, and Equestrian vaulting, vaulting ...
as well. It is particularly useful as a guide for riders in spacing animals apart when a number of them are all together in a riding
arena such as during group
riding instruction or at a
horse show.
Abbreviations
In reporting result of horse races winning margins are commonly abbreviated:
See also
*
Glossary of equestrian terms
*
Glossary of Australian and New Zealand punting (horse-racing terms)
*
List of unusual units of measurement
*
Glossary of North American horse racing
Glossary of North American horse racing:
Additional glossaries at:
*Glossary of Australian and New Zealand punting
*Glossary of equestrian terms
This is a basic glossary of equestrian terms that includes both technical terminology and jargon ...
References
{{reflist
Horse racing
Units of length