Going Racing! All your questions answered

If you have never been to the races before, you may have a long list of questions about what to do, where to go and what to expect from a day at the races. We have tried to anticipate some of those questions here - but if you have more, why don't you e-mail your questions to info@scottishracing.co.uk

What is the difference between flat racing and jump racing?
What sort of tickets do I need?
Are racemeetings ever cancelled?
What should I wear?
How do I place a bet?
How do I select a winner?
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What is the difference between flat racing and jump racing?
Flat racing takes place over a course without obstacles, while jump racing may involve the horses negotiating a number of hurdles or fences. Hurdles are relatively small (3'6'') timber obstacles, laced with birch, which can easily be knocked flat if they are hit by the horses' hooves. Fences are much more substantial and consist of a timber frame packed with birch to a height of 4'6''. They can not be knocked over, but the horses are able to brush through the top few inches.

Flat races take place over a range of distances from five furlongs upwards. A furlong is one eighth of a mile. Jump races take place over a minimum of two miles.

While Hamilton Park stages Flat racing only, Kelso and Perth stage jump racing only. Ayr and Musselburgh racecourses stage racing over both codes.

What sort of tickets do I need?
Children aged 16 years and under are admitted free of charge to all Scottish racecourses when they are accompanied by an adult, making racing one of the most family friendly activities you can imagine!

While some racecourses have just one enclosure, others offer a choice of tickets at varying costs, giving access to different types of facilities. Generally speaking, The Members (sometimes called the Club) Enclosure offers the best facilities of all, including a restaurant and viewing opposite the winning post. Despite the name, you do not have to be a member to buy badges for this enclosure - it is open to all

The Grandstand (sometimes know as Public or Tattersalls) Enclosure offers all the basic facilities that make a day at the races such fun - access to view the horses before each race, bookmakers, Tote betting facilities, food and drink outlets, childrens' activities (on designated racedays) and of course viewing of the racing itself.

Each of the Scottish racecourses offer a discount on tickets purchased in advance of the raceday, although deadlines for ordering may vary from course to course. Click on the "Book Tickets" icon for more information.

Are racemeetings ever cancelled?
Racing can take place in virtually any weather - even rain and snow. However, safe ground conditions are essential and it is therefore impossible to race on ground which is either too hard, waterlogged or frozen. If there is any doubt about the racemeeting that you have chosen to attend, it may be worth checking this website or calling the racecourse before you leave home.

In the event that you have booked tickets for a racemeeting which is cancelled before the first race, you will be able to obtain either a full refund or tickets for an alternative fixture.

What should I wear?
None of the Scottish racecourses insists on a rigid dress code, although customers are generally advised to wear smart casual clothes.

Male racegoers in the Members Enclosure or Private Hospitality Facilities usually wear jackets and ties, while female racegoers wear similarly smart dress. Ladies particularly might like to look out for especially themed racemeetings, where there may be prizes for the best dressed lady or the lady wearing the best hat.

Horseracing takes place throughout the year in almost all weather conditions. Although each of the courses offers excellent facilities that will enable you to stay warm and dry, you may prefer to get closer to the horses. It is therefore an excellent idea to take the weather into consideration when deciding what to wear!

How do I place a bet?
Racegoers aged eighteen or older, may place bets either with a course bookmaker or with the Tote.

Bookmakers offer odds on the chances of each horse winning in the form of fractions: 2/1, 5/2, 3/1, 20/1, etc. If you back a winner at 2/1, you will receive £2 for every £1 that you put on the horse plus your stake (the amount of money that you put on) back. A horse priced at 5/2 will pay £2.50 for every £1 staked.

The Tote offer pool betting, which is a little like entering a sweepstake. All of the stakes (the bets which racegoers place on the horses) are pooled. The pool is divided between all those who selected the winner. The value of the winning dividend is therefore dependant on the amount of money placed on the winner in proportion the total amount of money which was staked on the race. A popular winner will therefore pay a smaller dividend that one which few people have selected.

The Tote also offers "pools" on a variety of different results. For example, a "place" bet requires the racegoer to select a horse to finish in any of the first three places, as long as there are at least eight runners in the race. If you think that you can predict the horses which will finish first and second (in the correct order) you may want to place an "Exacta" bet. More information on Tote bets will be available from any Tote betting window on the racecourse.

How do I select a winner?
Dear reader, if there was an easy way to select guaranteed winners, you may be assured that your correspondent would be staying in the very best Scottish hotels, enjoying the best Scottish whisky and dining in each of the best restaurants on Scotland's fine racecourses! Alas, this is not the case.

While some racegoers study the form, many people enjoy just as much success by simply choosing a name that they like or selecting the jockey's colours which appeal to them most. Information about every horse running at the course can be found in the race programme, which is usually available from a point close to the entrance. A trip to the paddock to have a look at the horses before each race can be enlightening as well as fun.

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