33 horse racing quiz questions with answers, covering the classics, the Triple Crown, betting terms and the language of the track. Reveal each answer as you go.
Every question gives three options and hides the correct one behind a button, so you can keep score honestly. The answer key under the scoring table repeats all 33 horse racing trivia questions and answers in order for anyone who would rather read them at once. The set also works as a round of horse racing quiz questions to read out loud, and the questions about horse racing move from the famous races to the kind of horse racing trivia that only regular punters get right.
1. Which country is home to the oldest horse race in the world – the Palio di Siena?
- A) England
- B) Italy
- C) France
2. What is the distance of the Kentucky Derby in miles?
- A) 1 mile
- B) 1.25 miles
- C) 1.5 miles
3. Which horse won the first-ever Triple Crown in 1919?
- A) War Admiral
- B) Secretariat
- C) Sir Barton
4. In which country is the Melbourne Cup held?
- A) South Africa
- B) New Zealand
- C) Australia
5. At which racecourse is the Grand National run?
- A) Aintree
- B) Epsom Downs
- C) Ascot
6. Which jockey holds the record for the most American Triple Crown victories?
- A) Lester Piggott
- B) Eddie Arcaro
- C) Bill Shoemaker
7. Which racehorse won the 1973 Triple Crown and took the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths?
- A) Seattle Slew
- B) Secretariat
- C) Affirmed
8. Which English classic is run at Epsom Downs over about one and a half miles?
- A) The Grand National
- B) The Cheltenham Gold Cup
- C) The Epsom Derby
9. In racing, what is a female horse aged four or younger called?
- A) Colt
- B) Filly
- C) Gelding
10. Which term does North American racing use for its top-level races instead of Group 1?
- A) Class 1
- B) Stakes 1
- C) Grade 1
11. In a handicap race, what is adjusted to give every runner an equal chance?
- A) The weight each horse carries
- B) The distance each horse runs
- C) The time each horse starts
12. Which of these races is NOT part of the American Triple Crown?
- A) Preakness Stakes
- B) Belmont Stakes
- C) Arlington Million
13. What do you call a horse who has yet to win a race?
- A) Filly
- B) Debutante
- C) Maiden
14. Which jockey was nicknamed the “Long Fellow”?
- A) Fred Archer
- B) Willie Shoemaker
- C) Lester Piggott
15. Which famous horse was featured in the 2003 film “Seabiscuit: An American Legend”?
- A) Seabiscuit
- B) War Admiral
- C) Phar Lap
16. What race is known as the “Run for the Roses”?
- A) The Preakness Stakes
- B) The Kentucky Derby
- C) The Belmont Stakes
17. In which type of race is every runner available for purchase at a set price?
- A) Handicap race
- B) Claiming race
- C) Maiden race
18. In the Northern Hemisphere, which date counts as every thoroughbred racehorse's official birthday?
- A) January 1
- B) March 1
- C) August 1
19. Which Irish racecourse hosts the Irish Derby?
- A) Leopardstown
- B) The Curragh
- C) Punchestown
20. How many furlongs are in a mile?
- A) 4
- B) 8
- C) 10
21. In horse racing, which term is used to describe a horse that finishes a race without a rider?
- A) Loose horse
- B) Unridden finish
- C) Riderless run
22. Which jockey rode Secretariat to the 1973 Triple Crown?
- A) Ron Turcotte
- B) Bill Shoemaker
- C) Angel Cordero
23. What is the name of the room where jockeys are weighed before and after a race?
- A) The parade ring
- B) The weighing room
- C) The winner's enclosure
24. Which English monarch is known as the father of the English turf for his support of racing at Newmarket?
- A) Henry VIII
- B) Charles II
- C) Queen Victoria
25. Which breed of horse is raced in the Kentucky Derby, the Epsom Derby and the Melbourne Cup?
- A) Arabian
- B) Quarter Horse
- C) Thoroughbred
26. What is the name of the annual horse racing festival held in Cheltenham, England?
- A) Ebor Festival
- B) Cheltenham Festival
- C) Glorious Goodwood
27. What does it mean when a horse is described as odds-on?
- A) It is priced at less than even money
- B) It has never won a race
- C) It carries the top weight
28. Which of these U.S. states have no racetracks for horse racing?
- A) Florida
- B) Alaska
- C) Arizona
29. What does the term “Across the Board” mean in horse race betting?
- A) Betting on multiple races
- B) Betting on a single horse to win, place, and show
- C) Betting on all horses in a race
30. How many jockeys have won more than one Triple Crown?
- A) One
- B) Two
- C) None
31. Which prestigious race is held at Longchamp Racecourse in France?
- A) Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
- B) Derby de Chantilly
- C) Grand Prix de Paris
32. In horse racing, what is a “photo finish”?
- A) An official image taken before the race starts
- B) A race that is too close to call without reviewing photographic evidence
- C) The winning horse and jockey’s celebratory picture
33. What is the term used when a race is canceled or postponed due to bad weather or unsafe track conditions?
- A) Delayed race
- B) Abandoned race
- C) Called off race
Results
| # of Correct Answers | Percentage Range | Label | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0- | 0-49% | Stable StarterArmchair Athlete | You've got some learning to do, but don't worry, there's always the next game! |
| - | 50-64% | Track TrotterRookie Runner | Not bad! Keep practicing, and you'll be a sports trivia champ in no time. |
| - | 65-79% | Gallop GuruMidfield Maestro | Impressive! You're getting closer to the top, keep up the good work. |
| - | 80-94% | Race RiderAll-Star Striker | Wow, you really know your sports trivia! You're a force to be reckoned with. |
| -33 | 95-100% | Horse Racing HeroLegendary Champion | Unbelievable! You're a true sports trivia master. Your knowledge knows no bounds! |
Horse Racing Quiz Answers: The Full Answer Key
Every question in this horse racing quiz with its correct answer, in the order the questions appear above. Check your score against the table, or use the list as a set of horse racing trivia questions and answers for a quiz night of your own.
| # | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Which country is home to the oldest horse race in the world – the Palio di Siena? | B) Italy |
| 2 | What is the distance of the Kentucky Derby in miles? | B) 1.25 miles |
| 3 | Which horse won the first-ever Triple Crown in 1919? | C) Sir Barton |
| 4 | In which country is the Melbourne Cup held? | C) Australia |
| 5 | At which racecourse is the Grand National run? | A) Aintree |
| 6 | Which jockey holds the record for the most American Triple Crown victories? | B) Eddie Arcaro |
| 7 | Which racehorse won the 1973 Triple Crown and took the Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths? | B) Secretariat |
| 8 | Which English classic is run at Epsom Downs over about one and a half miles? | C) The Epsom Derby |
| 9 | In racing, what is a female horse aged four or younger called? | B) Filly |
| 10 | Which term does North American racing use for its top-level races instead of Group 1? | C) Grade 1 |
| 11 | In a handicap race, what is adjusted to give every runner an equal chance? | A) The weight each horse carries |
| 12 | Which of these races is NOT part of the American Triple Crown? | C) Arlington Million |
| 13 | What do you call a horse who has yet to win a race? | C) Maiden |
| 14 | Which jockey was nicknamed the "Long Fellow"? | A) Fred Archer |
| 15 | Which famous horse was featured in the 2003 film "Seabiscuit: An American Legend"? | A) Seabiscuit |
| 16 | What race is known as the "Run for the Roses"? | B) The Kentucky Derby |
| 17 | In which type of race is every runner available for purchase at a set price? | B) Claiming race |
| 18 | In the Northern Hemisphere, which date counts as every thoroughbred racehorse's official birthday? | A) January 1 |
| 19 | Which Irish racecourse hosts the Irish Derby? | B) The Curragh |
| 20 | How many furlongs are in a mile? | B) 8 |
| 21 | In horse racing, which term is used to describe a horse that finishes a race without a rider? | A) Loose horse |
| 22 | Which jockey rode Secretariat to the 1973 Triple Crown? | A) Ron Turcotte |
| 23 | What is the name of the room where jockeys are weighed before and after a race? | B) The weighing room |
| 24 | Which English monarch is known as the father of the English turf for his support of racing at Newmarket? | B) Charles II |
| 25 | Which breed of horse is raced in the Kentucky Derby, the Epsom Derby and the Melbourne Cup? | C) Thoroughbred |
| 26 | What is the name of the annual horse racing festival held in Cheltenham, England? | B) Cheltenham Festival |
| 27 | What does it mean when a horse is described as odds-on? | A) It is priced at less than even money |
| 28 | Which of these U.S. states have no racetracks for horse racing? | B) Alaska |
| 29 | What does the term "Across the Board" mean in horse race betting? | B) Betting on a single horse to win, place, and show |
| 30 | How many jockeys have won more than one Triple Crown? | A) One |
| 31 | Which prestigious race is held at Longchamp Racecourse in France? | A) Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe |
| 32 | In horse racing, what is a "photo finish"? | B) A race that is too close to call without reviewing photographic evidence |
| 33 | What is the term used when a race is canceled or postponed due to bad weather or unsafe track conditions? | B) Abandoned race |
Hungry for More? Check out these Resources!
- More posts about Horse Racing
- Wikipedia
- International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities (IFHA)
- IFHA YouTube Channel
FAQ
How many questions are in this horse racing quiz?
There are 33. Each question offers three options, and the correct answer is hidden behind the reveal button below it.
Where are the horse racing trivia questions and answers listed together?
In the answer key under the scoring table. It repeats all 33 questions in order with the correct answer beside each one.
Are these horse racing quiz questions hard?
They range widely. The famous races and their homes are easy enough for anyone who watches the Derby once a year. The betting terms and track vocabulary are aimed at regular racegoers.
Can I use this as a horse racing pub quiz round?
Yes. Read the question and the three options out loud, collect the letters, then go through the answer key and count the correct ones.
Is there an easy horse racing quiz for beginners?
The opening questions cover the best known races and basic terms such as maiden and photo finish, which makes the first third a fair starting point for newcomers.
What is a good score on this horse racing quiz?
Anything above half is a strong result. The scoring table turns your total into a rank, from Stable Starter at the bottom to Horse Racing Hero at the top.
What are some good horse racing quiz questions to ask?
The ones with a single documented answer: how many furlongs make a mile, which race is the Run for the Roses, what across the board means at the betting window.
How long is a furlong in horse racing?
One eighth of a mile, or 220 yards. Race distances in Britain and Ireland are given in miles and furlongs, so eight furlongs is a mile.
Which three races make up the American Triple Crown?
The Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes, run in that order over about five weeks in the spring.
