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SARGA.CO – Did you capture your best shots at the Indonesia Horse Racing (IHR) Cup II 2025 yesterday? Horses are always fascinating subjects—whether in full speed on the track or simply at rest. Even better, today’s IHR competitions are held at racetracks with stunning views: Legok Jawa in Pangandaran with its breathtaking blue coastline, or Kubu Gadang, framed by the lush green slopes of Mount Sago.
But if your photos still didn’t come out as you hoped, don’t worry—there are plenty more racing events lined up by SARGA.CO this year. While waiting for the next championship, you can sharpen your photography skills so you won’t miss those once-in-a-lifetime moments on the track.
A sharp horse racing photo can set hearts racing—especially when it captures every detail of the drama in motion. Unfortunately, many photographers end up with blurred shots, messy backgrounds, or missed action due to poor timing.
Don’t give up just yet. Here are some tricks to help you capture more dynamic, lifelike horse racing photos. Insights are adapted from Sidewalking Victoria’s article: “Photography in Horse Racing: How to Take the Best Photos.”
Photographing fast-moving horses requires a camera with high burst mode—around 8–10 frames per second—so you don’t miss a breath, a leap, or the final push at the finish line.
A telephoto lens such as 70–200mm or even 100–400mm will help you capture action from afar with crisp detail. Don’t forget a high-speed memory card to keep up with rapid shooting without lag.
Set your shutter speed to at least 1/1000s—or even faster in bright daylight. Aperture settings like f/2.8–f/4 create a nicely blurred background while keeping the horse and jockey sharp.
Adjust ISO according to light: low ISO on a sunny day, higher when it’s cloudy. Always use autofocus with tracking points aimed at the jockey’s body area to maintain sharpness as the horse speeds past.
Certain spots on the racetrack offer the best angles. Near the starting gate, you can capture explosive bursts of action as horses launch forward.
Curves on the track are perfect for showing turning form and speed.
And, of course, the finish line is where you’ll catch the most dramatic shots—horses crossing the line, or jockeys’ faces lit up with victory.
Great moments don’t happen only at the finish. Look out for those instances when all four of the horse’s legs are in the air, when jockeys give powerful signals, or the raw emotions in the paddock before the race begins.
Try burst shooting in sets of 10–20 photos per lap for more options. Experiment with panning technique too: use a slower shutter speed (around 1/30s) and follow the horse’s motion to blur the background while keeping the horse sharp—creating the illusion of speed.
The race itself isn’t the only story. Capture the paddock atmosphere, jockeys saddling up, silk details, sweat, mud, cheering crowds, or the warm glow of golden hour. Close-up shots of a horse’s eyes or tack can add depth and emotion to your photo story.
Finally, editing is just as important as shooting. Learn to crop out distractions, fine-tune contrast and color, and work with RAW files so you can recover highlights and shadows without losing detail.
With these tips, you’ll be ready to capture horse racing in all its glory—from pounding hooves and roaring crowds to those goosebump-inducing finish-line moments.
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