Horse Racing Trivia

1. Which thoroughbred finished second to the U.S. Triple Crown winner Affirmed in all three races in 1978?

From Quiz Going Round in Circles

Answer: Alydar

Alydar (1975-1990) is ranked number 27 in "The Blood-Horse" magazine's Top 100 Thoroughbred Champions of the 20th century (Man o' War was #1 and Secretariat was ranked #2). He was a grandson of Native Dancer and a descendant of Bull Lea in two lines through his dam. Alydar raced against Affirmed ten times, for three wins. He also won many stakes races in the late 1970s, and was a successful sire; he was a stallion at Calumet Farms. Alydar was euthanized in 1990 after sustaining suspicious injuries. Buckpasser (1963-78) won 15 consecutive races and was one of the greatest sires in U.S. history. He is rated number 14 in "The Blood-Horse" magazine's Top 100 of the 20th century. Clyde Van Dusen (1926-48) was a small chestnut colt named for his jockey. He was the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby from post position 20. It has been said that the downpour and muddiness of the track allowed him to win the Derby, but that's horse racing! Dan Patch (1896-1916)was considered America's greatest pacer (Harness racing).

From Quiz Jump On It! Jump On It!

Answer: Aintree

Aintree is a parish and village in Merseyside, some 10 km north of Liverpool. The village is best known for the Grand National, which has been organised yearly since 1839. Only during both World Wars the race was not held over there. Ascot is a place in Berkshire where another horse racing event is organised every year. Contrary to the Grand National, the horse racing circuit in Ascot contains no obstacles at all - speed is the only thing that matters, horses and their jockeys don't have to negotiate tricky jumps. Waregem is a city in Belgium. Steeplechase horse racing is organised every year near Waregem. The Waregem Koerse, as this event is called, contains a jump over the locally notorious Gaverbeek. Louisville is the largest city in Kentucky. The Kentucky Derby, one of the most famous equestrian events, is organised in Louisville. The city has also gained the right to organise the World Championship cyclocross in 2013 (which traditionally is competed in Europe).

From Quiz A Bucket of Oats For my Ride, Please

Answer: Silks

The brightly colored outfits worn by jockeys are known as silks, the name is derived from the fabric that was traditionally used to make them. A jockeys silks consist of tight fitting, white breeches and a brightly colored silk shirt with matching form-fitting cap and knee-high black boots. The colors worn are dictated by the owner of the horse or the trainer who employs each jockey. Each owner has a registered combination of silk colors that are worn by all their riders.

From Quiz A Day at the Races

Answer: Royal Ascot Opening Day

"My Fair Lady" features a day spent at Ascot Racecourse by Eliza and Professor Higgins - and throngs of others. Many of the characters at the races sing "Ascot Opening Day", for a memorable scene. The racecourse is to be found in the town of Ascot, in Berkshire, England. Established in 1711, it has both flat racing and steeplechase.

From Quiz Harness Racing 101

Answer: The colors of the driver's silks

Different from thoroughbred racing, the colors are assigned to the individual drivers, rather than the stable owners. Each driver has a unique color combination registered with the United States Trotting Association, and uses the same colors no matter where, or for which owner he is driving.

From Quiz Horse Racing Terms

Answer: The jacket and cap worn by a jockey

Another term for jockeys' wear is "silks", even though today it's often nylon.

From Quiz Palio

Answer: Siena

Palio races were originally held in other Italian cities, such as Padua, Verona and Bologna, but the Siena classic remains.

From Quiz Horse Knowledge

Answer: Stroller

Stroller won the Individual Silver Medal, only four points behind Steinkraus. He was one of only two horses to jump a clear round in the entire 1968 Olympics, clearing a puissance fence of 6' 10".

From Quiz Famous Thoroughbreds

Answer: Colin

Colin raced 15 times in his two years on the track and never lost a race, but is often overlooked when recalling the great racehorses of all time.

From Quiz Going Round in Circles

Answer: La Troienne

La Troienne (1926-1954) was not a great racer while she lived in France (her lifetime earnings were $146), but she was transported to the U.S. in 1931 and became an amazing broodmare, producing 14 foals, 12 of whom raced and 10 of whom were winners. She was the grand dam of Buckpasser and the dam of Businesslike who also produced many winners, including Smarty Jones (who won two of the three Triple Crown races in 2004). She was listed as a 'cluster mare' -- a thoroughbred broodmare that has produced two or more winners of five or more of the eight most important and valuable races within six generations. Regret (1915), Genuine Risk (1980)and Winning Colors (1988) were the first three fillies to win the Kentucky Derby.

From Quiz Jump On It! Jump On It!

Answer: Red Rum

Red Rum was the first horse to win the Grand National three times. This bay gelding was foaled in 1965. When Red Rum entered the Grand National in 1973, he was recently cured of a nasty infection - perhaps because his owner had him trained in sea water. The Grand National in 1973 knew a spectacular development. Red Rum and Crisp were the two favourites, but after the first circuit Crisp had already an enormous lead. However, Red Rum caught up and won with a narrow margin. In 1974 Red Rum won the race again, and L'Escargot was the runner-up. In 1975 L'Escargot won in front of Red Rum. In 1976, Red Rum finished second yet again. In 1977, Red Rum made racing history by winning a third time. Red Rum died in 1995 and was buried at the grounds of the Grand National. He has also a life size statue near the racing course. Tipperary Tom won the Grand National in 1928. Seabiscuit was an American racehorse who won several major races between 1936 and 1940. Secretariat won the Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes) in 1973.

From Quiz A Bucket of Oats For my Ride, Please

Answer: Short and slender

Most jockeys are very small men. They are subject to weight limits at each race. Most jockeys are between 4'10" to 5'6" and weigh less than 135 lbs. For example, the weight limit for a fully dressed jockey in the Kentucky Derby is 126 lbs.(57kg).

From Quiz A Day at the Races

Answer: He was facing backwards when the race started

Thoroughbreds are high-strung and often skittish at the beginning of a race (they know what's going to happen). In the earlier days of racing, they didn't have starting gates. Instead, the horses were lined up in back of a line or rope, which was dropped when the starter gave the signal. That day, Man-O-War was dancing around in anticipation and was facing the wrong way when the race started. By the time he was turned around, the others were already racing away. The winner of that race was Upset, giving a new word for a situation in the sports world.

From Quiz Harness Racing 101

Answer: A casual term for the sulky

Sulkies used for racing are usually made of fiberglass or aluminum and are very lightweight. Heavier and longer sulkies called "training bikes" are used for non-racing situations when the horses are training.

From Quiz Horse Racing Terms

Answer: A three-year old horse

A one-year old is called a yearling and a two-year old a juvenile.

From Quiz Palio

Answer: A Banner

A selected artist produces a work of art in the form of a large silk banner, which is paraded for all too see as part of the spectacle.

From Quiz Famous Thoroughbreds

Answer: Seattle Slew

Seattle Slew was the first undefeated Triple Crown winner. He sired over 102 stakes winners since retiring. He died May 7, 2002 twenty-five years to the day that he won the Kentucky Derby. Slew may not have been better than Secretariat or Man O'War, but he's my favorite.

From Quiz Going Round in Circles

Answer: Barbaro

Barbaro, a bay horse, was born in 2003. He won the Kentucky Derby in 2006 by 6½ lengths. His close relatives included Big Brown, Afleet Alex, Funny Cide and Smarty Jones. In the Preakness he broke poorly and injured several bones in a hind leg. Barbaro endured many surgeries and treatments for his leg, but soon developed problems with other legs. Thoroughbreds are built for speed, but have very small hooves and thin legs in proportion to their body weight. Such a horse cannot live on three legs, nor can he lie down for extended periods because that causes congestion, possible bleeding and heart and/or lung problems. Slings were used to relieve Barbaro's pain, but when he could no longer be sustained without pain he was euthanized on January 29, 2007. His statue stands at the entrance to Churchill Downs in Kentucky. Cigar was a champion U.S.thoroughbred in the 1990s. He won 16 consecutive races. Son of the great Adios, Henry T. Adios (1958- )was a prominent trotter in harness racing, and was considered the richest standardbred of the year in the U.S. when he retired in 1962. In August 1968, Dr. Fager ("The Doctor") set and held for 20 years the world record at one mile on any surface (1:32.2). He was the first horse to break Buckpasser's record for the mile which stood at 1:32.6.

From Quiz Jump On It! Jump On It!

Answer: Marion Coakes

All these women have won an individual Olympic medal at horsejumping, although none of them earned the Olympic gold. The British Marion Coakes (born 1947 in Hampshire) won a silver medal in 1968. She also made it to the last round in the Team event 1968, where the British team finished eighth. Marion's major successes were obtained when riding Stroller, a pony born 1950. In 1972 Ann Moore was another British silver medalist. The Swiss Heidi Robbiani on the bronze medal in 1984. The French Alexandra Ledermann finished third in 1996 and fourth in 2000.

From Quiz Palio

Answer: Districts

There are 17 disticts of the city of Siena, which traditionally have arch enemies for example, Tartuca and Chiocciola.

From Quiz Horse Knowledge

Answer: Dundrum

In 1961, he was regarded as show jumper of the century when he won five major events at the Dublin Horse Show. It was the first time in history that so many awards were won by the same rider, let alone the same horse!

From Quiz Famous Thoroughbreds

Answer: Cigar

Cigar, pegged 'America's Horse' held one of the longest winning streaks in racing history. He retired to the Barn of Champions at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.

From Quiz Going Round in Circles

Answer: Allez France

Allez France (1970-89) won the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe and was named France's Horse of the Year in 1974. Allez France was named Champion Two Year Old Filly in 1972, Champion Three Year Old in 1973, Older Mare in 1974 -75, and in 1976 retired as a broodmare in the USA. She produced a long line of winners, and was buried next to Man o' War at Churchill Downs, KY in 1989. Thoroughbreds are generally traced through their distaff (female) line. Kincsem (1874-1887) was an extremely successful Hungarian filly winning all 54 starts in five countries. Offspring of her three daughters have won 41 classic races in Europe. Kincsem translates as 'my precious'. Cardigan Bay (1956-88)was a New Zealand horse; he had an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. Hyperion, a British chestnut stallion (1930-60) was one of the smallest horses to win the Epsom Derby and the St. Leger Stakes, and was the UK's top sire for six years.

From Quiz Jump On It! Jump On It!

Answer: German

Winkler was born in 1926 in Wuppertal, Germany. His Olympic career started at the Games in Melbourne in 1956, where he won both horse jumping events (the individual competition and the team competition). In Rome 1960 and Tokyo 1964 he contributed to another Gold medal for the German team. Winkler also won a bronze medal in the team event in 1968, a fifth gold medal in the team event in 1972, and finally a silver medal in the team event in 1976.

From Quiz A Day at the Races

Answer: Longacres

Patrons of this beautiful racetrack were afforded a striking view of Mt. Rainier. Adding to the beauty were tall, graceful poplar trees planted along the far turn, and flower pots for the crowds to admire. The beautiful grandstand and grounds were designed by B. Marcus Priteca, his designs paid homage to Longchamps in France. Longacres was founded in 1933 shortly after betting on races became legal in the state. In Sept. 1992, after 59 years of racing, the track was sold to Boeing and closed. An exciting day at the races here occurred in 1977 when the great horse Seattle Slew, undefeated Triple Crown Winner, ran to support cancer research.

From Quiz Harness Racing 101

Answer: Has another horse in front, behind, and to its right

This is a tough position to be in because the horse cannot perform to its best ability for fear of interference with others. The horse and driver must await an opening for a clear run, which sometimes never materializes.

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Last Updated Dec 21 2024 5:44 AM

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