Horse racing

Flat racing

Flat races are races where the horses are at full gallop and aim to be first to cross the finish line. The horses are ridden by riders known as jockeys. They begin in stalls, where they must wait for the gates to open automatically at the start of the race. Before the race, a draw decides under which number each horse will run, which in turn determines its starting stall. No. 1 will be on the inside fence and No. 18 completely on the outside, where the horse will have to cover a greater distance on the bends.

Obstacle racing

Obstacle races follow the same principle as flat racing, except that an elastic tape is used at the start line instead of stalls, and the track features a succession of obstacles that the horses will have to clear.

There are three types of obstacle race: hurdles, steeplechase and cross-country.

In hurdle racing, the obstacles are relatively modest, about 1.10 metres in height. The race distance varies between 3,000 and 5,000 meters, but the majority of races are run over 3,500 to 3,900 meters.

The most frequent obstacle race at the Châtillon-sur-Chalaronne racecourse is the steeplechase. This is considered the most prestigious jumping discipline because the distance covered by the horses is greater and the fences are higher and more complex than a hurdle race.