I don't like horse racing particularly, but I was watching the Ashes cricket on channel 4 and they cut to Doncaster for a horse race for some reason.

Anyhow, for once I watched the race. And the've got a speedo and everything nowadays :clap:

Well, there I am watching the horses racing, they are all brown ones, and all have little men on their back and off they go.

But the screen showed the speed and it was only 31 - 35 mph.

huh?
I thought horses were fast. That kind of speed is 50cc restricted moped territory. Don't get me wrong I can't run that fast but I was expecting at least 45 - 50 mph..

What's the point of a horse if you can go faster on a push bike..

I've clocked my horse at about 30mph but it feels a lot faster when you're on board!

Yeah and it bloody well hurts to fall off at full gallop!! :blush:

There has just been another race on and these horses went at 38 mph.

Maybe they had higher octane oats in their nosebags...

Originally posted by muddycoffee
There has just been another race on and these horses went at 38 mph.

Maybe they had higher octane oats in their nosebags...

These horses better be careful - they'll be getting speeding tickets next...:hihi:

Originally posted by muddycoffee
I don't like horse racing particularly, but I was watching the Ashes cricket on channel 4 and they cut to Doncaster for a horse race for some reason.

Anyhow, for once I watched the race. And the've got a speedo and everything nowadays :clap:

Well, there I am watching the horses racing, they are all brown ones, and all have little men on their back and off they go.

But the screen showed the speed and it was only 31 - 35 mph.

huh?
I thought horses were fast. That kind of speed is 50cc restricted moped territory. Don't get me wrong I can't run that fast but I was expecting at least 45 - 50 mph..

What's the point of a horse if you can go faster on a push bike..

Given that a human can achieve 15 mph at best, 30 - 40 is pretty impressive. The only animals that achieves 50+ are cheetahs and ostriches (I think).

Originally posted by Cyclone
Given that a human can achieve 15 mph at best, 30 - 40 is pretty impressive. The only animals that achieves 50+ are cheetahs and ostriches (I think).

So why the hell don't the jockeys ride these animals instead? Makes sense doesn't it! :loopy:


:heyhey:

Originally posted by Briano
So why the hell don't the jockeys ride these animals instead? Makes sense doesn't it! :loopy:
:heyhey:

Bernie Clifton does. :hihi:

I am staggered by the gross naivety of this thread. Its like watching a Mens 10,000 metre race, and saying "I thought humans could sprint", not taking into account the DISTANCE of the race.
If the race is 5-6f (furlongs), the horses will SPRINT. If its longer, they will go more slowly until the end.
Their speed is not uniform - it depends on the race distance and where they are in the race.
Get it?

Originally posted by Guderian
I am staggered by the gross naivety of this thread. Its like watching a Mens 10,000 metre race, and saying "I thought humans could sprint", not taking into account the DISTANCE of the race.
If the race is 5-6f (furlongs), the horses will SPRINT. If its longer, they will go more slowly until the end.
Their speed is not uniform - it depends on the race distance and where they are in the race.
Get it?

... errr, so your saying these horses aren't clever enough to work out that if they just run as fast as they can the whole race they could win really easily!? :confused:

How stupid could they be! ;)

About as stupid as you, judging from that post. (Although I now realise you are playing silly beggars).

Originally posted by Guderian
About as stupid as you, judging from that post. (Although I now realise you are playing silly beggars).

:cool:

Originally posted by Guderian
I am staggered by the gross naivety of this thread.


Well there you are, I don't work with horses, I have never owned one and I have never ridden one. However I have ridden bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles, cars vans etc.. And I was just commenting that I have no concept about how fast they run and was surprised that racehorses ran so slow.

How do you expect anybody to know how fast horses go at unless they have worked with them or ridden them.

Originally posted by Guderian
If the race is 5-6f (furlongs), the horses


can you explain how far that is in miles? I had a comprehensive education and we didn't do old money. I am only 36 I think I am about 10 years too young for this kind of old fashioned mumbo - jumbo.

8f is one mile. And i am 32, 4 years younger* than you. Horce Race distances in the UK are measured using this method. It has nothing to do with age.
And believe me, if you saw racehorses thundering past in the flesh, you would realise they do run fast.

Originally posted by muddycoffee
I am only 36

Originally posted by Guderian
8f is one mile. And i am 32, 4 years older than you.

Actually you are 4 years younger....

And thanks for that info 8 furlongs is one mile... good stuff

Yes I have got no problem with horses, and yes I'm sure that they seem very fast and scarey when you are close up to them, and when you ride one at full tilt.

Have you ever done 100mph on a motorcycle? and if so how does that compare?

Horses do reach speeds of upto 35mph, ours used to do steeple chasing but very rarely got above speeds of 2mph.
LOL..I jest of course.
Seriously it's around 35 for a top sprinter like say Soviet Song, star filly!

Originally posted by muddycoffee


What's the point of a horse if you can go faster on a push bike..
a)horses can jump and swim.
b)you can't eat pushbikes (with one or two notable exceptions)
c)get two horses and some grass, and soon you will have more horses. Try leaving two bikes in the garage for a season, see if you get any little ones.