Developing a world-class race horse takes time, effort and plenty of money from owners – and that’s before they even see their horse run their first race! Because of this a particular aspect of horse racing focuses on young horses and developing their experience on the race track before they join the bigger boys.
These younger events are called nursery races and Paddy Power is here to explain what they’re all about in the latest of our Demystifying Racing series of guides…
What is a nursery race?
A nursery race – also known as a juvenile race – is often the first race type a young horse will be introduced to. They are officially-sanctioned races that are open to two-year-old horses only. Two is the age horses must be before they can officially compete, but that doesn’t mean all horses are on an equal footing. Because the way horses are aged is different to humans, one runner could be aged 2 years 11 months and another 2 years 1 month. Because of this – and other aspects like form, sex and the experience of the jockey – handicappers may grant weight allowances.
A nursery race is run on Flat events in the UK and Ireland, usually towards the end of summer. This gives a handicapper time to assess the horses and decide their initial mark based on pedigree and its trainer.
There are no jumps meetings that feature nursery races. The big reason for this is that the young horses aren’t experienced with race meets yet, are unfamiliar with noisy grandstands and are more likely to be affected by their surroundings. The last thing they need, therefore, are jumps to vault as well.
Newbury is another race meet to stage eye-catching nursery races (GETTY)
Can I bet on nursery races?
Yes. A nursery race in the UK and Ireland runs with the same betting rules as any other officially-sanctioned race. What’s more, these races often slot into a normal race day schedule, so a bookmaker covering a whole day at Newmarket – for example – will also cover the Nursery Handicap that takes place every October.
What’s more, horse racing betting is exactly the same on nursery races as it is on any other race. Paddy Power supplies a full race card, stats, form guides and course guides so you can make the best picks possible ahead of the start.
Horses aged just two years old run in nursery races (GETTY)
Best nursery races to bet on
Newmarket’s Nursery Handicap every October is a solid nursery race run on flat. Because it takes place later in the year it is a more credible option for horses born in the summer months. September sees the running of the Doncaster Nursery Handicap, which like the race at Newmarket features a range of handicapping options to ensure strong competition between the runners.
In total around 150 nursery races take place in the UK and Ireland each year. They tend to start towards the back end of summer and are a great source of racing betting for punters. After all, even with the best knowledge of the handicappers, nursery races tend to throw up more unpredictable results. So, racing betting fans who seek long-odds wins can find plenty of succeeding betting on nursery races.
DEMYSTIFYING RACING
- 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?
- 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?
