Contemporary Chariot Racing

Bast · Postby **Bast** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 7:04 am

Does anyone know anything about contemporary chariot racing in the US?

Dave C · Postby **Dave C** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 8:26 am

It's not in the US but you can check out www.chuckwagon.ab.ca . They race with horses that have to measure under 58" (14.2hh). I have a small TB stallion that a couple of the drivers use on pony mares for this purpose.

casallc · Postby **casallc** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 8:26 am

Yes, that ain't it. :lol:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/World-Cha ... 5888415860

pfrsue · Postby **pfrsue** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 9:33 am

The horses looked taller in Ben-Hur

Must have been really good cinematography!

Bast · Postby **Bast** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 12:29 pm

pfrsue wrote:The horses looked taller in Ben-Hur Must have been really good cinematography!

This happened in Berlin!

http://berlinsidewalk.com/2010/08/roman-chariot-racing-the-legend-of-ben-hur/

They had some full-sized teams, too, but the micro-version was more eye-catching. Several pics at the link.

jellac · Postby **jellac** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 9:05 am

I believe that you will find active chariot racing ongoing in western states of US, often in conjunction with State or County fairs/rodeos. Those I've seen (in photos) featured horses of the Appaloosa breed, and possibally some restricted to AQHA horses. I believe that they distinguish between single, double and triple teams for those events.

Crystal · Postby **Crystal** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 1:05 pm

someone told me about the "world" championships of chariot racing held out west.... The winner gets a belt buckle and $400 ..

I heard the Jamaican team and Russian teams were bringing their A Game... :roll:

Joltman · Postby **Joltman** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 5:42 pm

Ben Hur was the best. One of those movies that got me interested in the game...

]m

Linda_d · Postby **Linda_d** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:34 am

Cutter and chariot racing is big out West, especially in Utah. I think that mostly AQHA horses are used because the races are pretty short. The AQHA has awarded Register Of Merit points to successful AQHA chariot racers for several decades.

Here's an article on the most recent World Championships held in Utah: http://www.aqha.com/en/Racing/News-Articles/M-and-Ms-Upsets-Chariot-Worlds.aspx

tbrace · Postby **tbrace** » Sun Jan 08, 2012 9:34 am

Those real chariots, as in the Utah article, are unbelieveably fun to race.

The chariot actually leaves the ground for several feet when the gates open and the horses hit the harnesses full speed.

Not the safest sport in the world, but mucho fun, and wow, do people out there take it seriously. Many spend $50K and up for a good chariot prospect.

Lots of QH race trainers start their young two year olds on the chariot to get them race experience without weight of a rider.

Some of the horses racing at Los Alamitos in CA will have been chariot horses early in their life, and some will go from good flat track careers to long careers on chariots.

Bast · Postby **Bast** » Sun Jan 08, 2012 10:23 am

tbrace wrote:Those real chariots, as in the Utah article, are unbelieveably fun to race.

The chariot actually leaves the ground for several feet when the gates open and the horses hit the harnesses full speed.

Not the safest sport in the world, but mucho fun, and wow, do people out there take it seriously. Many spend $50K and up for a good chariot prospect.

Lots of QH race trainers start their young two year olds on the chariot to get them race experience without weight of a rider.

Some of the horses racing at Los Alamitos in CA will have been chariot horses early in their life, and some will go from good flat track careers to long careers on chariots.

It sounds like it would be a lot of fun. I'd love to see it in person.