Developing a world-class racehorse 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 is a handicap for two-year-old racehorses. It may also be known as a juvenile race. 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, and compete together. And because of this – plus 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 during the summer. This gives the handicapper time to assess the horses and decide their initial ‘mark’ or rating based on their previous form, pedigree, trainer etc.
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 plays out 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.
WELCOME TO PADDY POWER NEWS!
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 high-profile 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.
- 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 PADDY POWER GUIDE TO RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
LIKE PADDY POWER NEWS? OR MAYBE YOU JUST LIKE TO WHINGE? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK IN OUR READER SURVEY