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Getting to Know Indonesia’s Horse Racing World — A Must-Read for Newbies!

SARGA.CO — Fell in love with horse racing after watching the Indonesia Horse Racing (IHR) series in 2025? If you can’t wait to watch more races, it’s time to level up your knowledge so you don’t get confused by the terms used by presenters or when chatting with people at the track.

Before learning the terminology in this equestrian sport, you first need to understand what horse racing actually is.

Horse racing is a competitive sport where specially trained horses run on a track to reach the finish line as fast as possible. In simple terms, the fastest horse wins.

Like other sports, horse racing in Indonesia is governed by an official organization that oversees its rules and development.

In Indonesia, the official body recognized by the government is the Indonesian Equestrian Sports Association (PORDASI). This organization regulates horse racing nationwide.

Now that you know the governing body, it’s time to recognize the key players in a horse race. It’s not just the jockey who makes a horse a winner.

Key Players in the Racetrack

There are at least five essential roles on the racetrack. The most important one is the horse.

This is the main “engine,” trained daily with controlled diet, stamina, and speed. Just like a Formula 1 car, a racehorse must always be ready to perform at its peak.

The second key player is the jockey — the rider who controls the horse, sets the rhythm, and chooses the right moment to sprint. Like an F1 driver, the jockey directs the horse's performance.

The third important figure is the trainer. This person must understand the horse’s character and design the strategy — like a coach planning the team’s tactics.

Another key figure is the owner. In the hands of the owner, a stable can have the facilities needed to support training. Their role is like a team owner in motorsports, providing the operational foundation for the stable.

Equally important is the groomer. These are the caretakers who ensure the horse’s cleanliness, health, and comfort every day. Their role resembles a technician who keeps the engine in top shape.

Racing Classes

For beginners, all horse races may look the same — the only difference being which horses are running. But in reality, races are arranged based on two categories: the horse’s height and age.

For height, there are five alphabet-based classes.
The smallest is Class F for horses measuring 138.1–142 cm.

Next come Class E (142.1–146 cm), Class D (146.1–151 cm), Class C (151.1–156 cm), Class B (156.1–161 cm), and the tallest, Class A for horses above 161.1 cm.

For age, there are three categories: 2-Year-Olds, 3-Year-Olds, and 4-Year-Olds.

As an example, a horse that stands 150 cm tall will be assigned to Class D and races with others of similar height.

Major Horse Races in Indonesia

In Indonesia’s racing calendar, each season features two main series: National Championship Series 1 (Kejurnas Seri 1) and Series 2 (Kejurnas Seri 2).

Series 1 focuses on age-based races, with the 3-Year-Old Derby (2000 meters) being the highlight. Height-based races still run in this series, but they are not the spotlight.

The spotlight for height-based races comes in Series 2, featuring Class A Super Sprint (1300 meters) and Class A Star of Stars (2200 meters). Age-based races appear here, too, but only as complementary events.

Race Track Distance

Indonesia follows distance standards set by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), but PORDASI adjusts them to suit local horses.

Indonesia runs three race distance categories:

Sprint (1000–1200 meters): Spectators love this because horses go full speed from the start due to the short distance.

Middle (1400–1800 meters): Horses need both speed and endurance to maintain power until the finish line.

Long (2000+ meters): The most exhausting race. It tests a horse’s true stamina.

Basic Rules of Horse Racing

PORDASI has many rules for jockeys and horses, but here are three basic ones for beginners:

A horse may only run in one race per event.
For example, a horse competing in Race 17 (Class A Star of Stars – 2200 meters) cannot enter another race in the same championship.

A jockey may ride in up to seven races per event, but must rest between races.

A stable may enter more than one horse in a race.
You might have seen King Halim Stable entering both King Argentin and Princess Gavi in the 3-Year-Old Derby (2000 meters).

Now your horse racing knowledge has leveled up. See you at the racetrack — it’s going to be even more exciting and adrenaline-filled!