Structure of Races

Flat racing is a term commonly used to denote a form of horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance.

The season stretches across the summer months, ensuring better weather than Jump racing.

Flat racing is a global, glamorous and lucrative sport with prestigious and historic meetings held across Europe as well as in the US, Australia, the Middle East and the Far East.

Racing takes place on a natural grass surface (turf) or on a synthetic surface (all-weather).

The Flat races in Great Britain are run over a variety of distances:

Please note: 1 furlong = 220 yards

• Sprints: 5 or 6 furlong races
• Middle distance: 7 furlong to 1m 4f races
• Stayers races: 1m 6f - 2mile races

In Great Britain, flat racing is split into three distinctive bands:

• Classics
• Class 1 (Group and Listed) races 
• Class 2-6 races

Classic Races

In British horse racing, The Classics are a series of horse races run over the Flat (i.e. without jumps). Each classic is run once each year and is restricted to horses that are three years old. There are five Classic races:

• 2,000 Guineas Stakes
• 1,000 Guineas Stakes
• Epsom Oaks
• Epsom Derby
• St. Leger Stakes

Visit our Classics page for more information about the Classic races.

Class 1 (Group and Listed) races

The top level of Flat racing. In Class 1 races the horses carry weights which are laid down by the conditions attached to the race, e.g. weights are allocated according the sex of the runners, the age of the runners (referred to as 'weight for age') or the quality of runners, with horses that have won certain values of races giving weight to less successful entrants.

Class 1 races are further divided into the following categories:

• Pattern races - are the best in Flat racing. Pattern races are divided into the following sub categories:
  • Group 1 - Races of major international importance.
  • Group 2 - Less important than Group 1, but still major international races.
  • Group 3 - Important domestic races.
• Listed races - Have less prestige than the group races but are still recognised as high quality races 

Class 2-6 Races

Races within Class 2 to 6 are divided into two categories: 'Handicaps' or 'Conditions' races

In Handicap races the British Horseracing Authority official handicapper gives horses a rating according to their ability. This rating then translates to the weight that the horse has to carry in the race, in the interest of making it fair so that poorer horses still have a chance of competing against better horses.

Handicaps are the bread and butter daily races, although some of these are also quite prestigious.

Handicaps are divided up from Class 2-7 to make sure horses of similar ratings are racing against each other:

• Class 2 - Heritage Handicaps, Handicaps of rating 86-100, 91-105 and 96-110
• Class 3 - Handicaps of 76-90, and 81-95
• Class 4 - Handicaps of rating 66-80, and 71-85
• Class 5 - Handicaps of rating 56-70, and 61-75
• Class 6 - Handicaps of rating 45-60, and 51-65

Conditions races are made up of various types of races where horses carry a set weight determined by their age, sex and experience.  Common types include Maiden races, Novice Stakes and Classified Stakes and level of prize money on offer determines the Class type

Read more >>

• Guide to Going Racing
• Guide to Betting
• Guide to Flat Racing
  • The Classics
  • Major Events
  • Structure of Races
  • All Weather Races
• Guide to Jump Racing