Horse racing can be a minefield of terminology and language that new punters will not have heard of before. This isn’t a surprise considering the horse racing industry is centuries old – and many words have become common parlance over the years.
But that’s why Paddy Power is here to help with our Demystifying Racing series of betting guides, which aim to help you cut through the jargon!
Today we’re looking at listed races and what they mean for your horse racing odds. Thankfully it’s one of the most straightforward concepts in the business — so let’s see what all the fuss is about…
What is a listed race?
When horse racing betting you will notice some races are branded as ‘Listed’ events. This could be, for example, the Chesham Stakes at Ascot, or the Windsor Castle Stakes.
These races are present in both Flat and National Hunt seasons, and feature horses that are not quite good enough to run in Group/Grade 1, 2 or 3 races, but are pushing to make the step up to that level.
However, don’t assume these races aren’t worth betting on!
Listed races run throughout the year and are parse of Class 1 racing (GETTY)
Listed races are still considered Class 1 standard in Flat and National Hunt racing. That’s the best class in the business.
But, while Flat Class 1 is subdivided into Groups 1, 2 and 3, and National Hunt Class 1 into Grades 1, 2 and 3, listed races in both actually come after that.
It’s a little complicated but the crux is that the Group/Grade subdivisions within Class 1 truly filter the best horses from the rest.
What are the rules of listed races?
Listed races follow the same weight penalties as are found in Group/Grade races. So, horses will generally run at the same weight but some, such as mares or fillies when they compete against against geldings or colts, are docked weight.
Listed races are run throughout the year and are valuable for horses that are progressing up the Class levels.
Listed horse races offer some of the most exciting moments of the season (GETTY)
How do listed races affect betting odds?
Racing betting odds during listed races can be a little different to those found in lower Class categories.
That’s because horses are expected to carry the same weight here, regardless of their Official Rating.
As we explored in our Horse Racing Ratings guide, each horse is given an Official Rating (OR).
This OR, based on a horses form, age, sex and other factors, is used to gauge the horses standard, which in turn places it within racing’s Class hierarchy.
If a horse has a strong rating, it will run at a higher Class of race. Classes 2 to 7 require horses to carry weights in handicap races depending on their OR. However, once the horse reaches Class 1 standard – with an OR of 96 or above – then some weight differentials disappear.
In terms of betting, this means the range of odds in a Class 1 race can be wider than those from Classes 2 to 7, because there is no or little weight differential to even out the runners.
So, you could see heavier favourites and bigger outsiders in Class 1 listed races — although this is by no means guaranteed.
- Why are there false starts in horse races like the Grand National?
- How many horses are there in the Grand National?
- Grand National prize money: How much does the Grand National winner get?
- 9 things to consider when picking a Grand National winner
- Grand National fence names and the stories behind every Aintree jump
- How high are Grand National fences at Aintree Racecourse?
- What are Grand National fences made of at Aintree Racecourse?
- Grand National fences: Order of jumps, total and which are taken twice
- Grand National weights: Why do horses carry different weights at Aintree?
- How many people usually attend the Grand National? What is Aintree’s capacity?
- What is the distance of the Grand National? How far do the horses run?
- How does a horse qualify for the Grand National?
- When did a horse last win the Grand National carrying top weight?
- Do Grand National reserve horses ever run in the race at Aintree?
- What does it mean when a horse is On the Bridle?
- What is a Black type horse race?
- What are the different types of going in horse racing?
- What is a bumper horse race?
- What are blinkers and why do some horses wear them?
- What is an Allowance Race in horse racing?
- What is the difference between hurdles and fences in National Hunt racing?
- What is a halter and why do some horses wear them?
- What does it mean when a horse has spread a plate?
- What is the Rule 4 betting rule in horse racing?
- What is the difference between graded, handicap and selling horse races?
- What does a novice hurdle in horse racing mean?
- What is a listed horse race?
- What does a novice chase in horse racing mean?
- Why do race horses have different ratings and what do they mean?
- When does the National Hunt season start and when does it end?
- Why are there different grades of horse race?
- Why are there 3 different types of National Hunt race?
- Why are race horses given different weights and what does it mean?
- How many different classes of horse race are there?
- What is a claiming race and what do they mean?
- What is an optional claimer in horse racing?
- What is a shadow roll and why do some race horses wear them?
- Why do some races start from stalls and some not?
- What is the difference between Derby and Oaks races?
- What does it mean when a horse knuckles during a horse race?
- What is a stayer in horse racing?
- What is a yearling horse and when are they ready to race?
- What does it mean if a horse has won a point race?
- What does a maiden mean in horse racing?
- How are horses’ ages calculated and why is it not the same as humans?
- What advantages do apprentice jockeys get when riding against professionals?
- What is a conditional jockey?
- What does the term ‘connections’ mean in horse racing?
- Why do some horses wear cheekpieces?
- Who are the stewards in horse racing?
- What does ‘weighed in’ mean at the end of a horse race?
- What is a nursery race?
- Why are some National Hunt races run without fences?
- Why are some horses given a tongue tie during races?
- What does it mean when a horse is ‘pushed out’?
- How are horse racing ratings calculated?
- What does it mean when a horse has a ‘wind operation’?
- How high are the fences and hurdles in horse racing?
- What is an apprentice jockey?
- What is a Bull Ring in horse racing?
- What does the phrase ‘Look of Eagles’ mean in horse racing?
- Why do some horses wear a ‘weight cloth’ during races?
- What is the Triple Crown in horse racing?
- What is a Steeplechase race in horse racing?
- How high are the Cheltenham Festival fences and hurdles?
- Why is the Champion Chase named after the Queen Mother?
- Why does Cheltenham racecourse have an Old Course and a New Course? What’s the differences between the two?
- What is the Cheltenham roar? What difference does it make in races?
- Why are there no jumps in the Cheltenham Festival Champion Bumper?
- How many fans usually attend the Cheltenham Festival? How big is the capacity?
- What is a juvenile in horse racing?
- What is a sire and a dam? Why is breeding so important in horse racing?
- What’s the difference between a colt, filly, gelding, stallion and mare?
- What does it mean when a horse goes to stud?
- What do horse racing commentators mean by sectional times?
- What is the Royal Procession at Royal Ascot? Which members of the Royal Family attend?
- How do they choose Epsom Derby stall numbers? Is there a draw bias?
- How long does it take horses to complete the Epsom Derby? How fast are the runners?
- What has happened to the Queen’s racehorses?
- What is a stewards’ enquiry in horse racing?
- What does it mean when a horse is exposed?
- What happens when there is a dead-heat in horse racing?
- What does the Clerk of the Course do in horse racing?
- What does schooling mean in horse racing?
- How are horses named and who approves them?
- Men must wear socks and other weird Royal Ascot dress codes
- Market movers: What is a market mover in horse racing?
- What is a Ladies’ Day in horse racing and why do they exist?
- Where’s the toilet and how much is a beer – Paddy’s guide to Cheltenham
- How many horse racing courses are there in the UK? Full list
- Top 8 most famous race horses of all time
- 8 of the best retired UK and Irish jockeys
The latest Cheltenham horse racing odds are on PaddyPower.com now
The Paddy Power Guide To Safer Gambling – Everything You Need To Know
