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To stay close to the action, you can’t follow the players without a race program. For just a few dollars, programs can be purchased race day at one of the many kiosks around the Great Meadow course.
To the untutored, the information may appear arcane. But with the simple explainations listed here, forewarned can be forearmed. The following is a page from the 1971 running of the Virginia Gold Cup. (Annual Meeting placed first.)
1) Numerical order of the race. The Gold Cup is typically run as the last race of the day since it is the headline event.
2) Name of race. Most stakes races and classics are named, or run as memorials to a famous person. But many “regular" races are known only by their description: i.e. maiden claiming hurdle or apprentice timber.
3) Race description and conditions. Here, the paragraph shows that the Gold Cup is for horses aged five and older, with respective weights designated by the age of the horse. Also stated here is the fact that if the cup is won three times by a single owner, they keep it. (Today it requires five wins.) “Riders acceptable to the committee” is old-fashioned terminology meaning that race officials could ensure the quality of riders in the race.
4) Name of horse owner.
5) Name of jockey.
6) Name of trainer.
7) Colors and design of silks worn by jockey which designate ownership of each entry. Owners create their own silks and register them with either the National Steeplechase Association or the Jockey Club, or both.
8) Post position number. This is embroidered on the
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