30 Best Horse Racing Quotes and Sayings

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For centuries, horse racing has been one of the most popular sports. It is a multi-billion dollar industry with a rich history.

Known as the “Sport of Kings”, horse racing is popular all across the world. These horse racing quotes and sayings give a glimpse of what life is like in this glamorous and competitive industry. From the Kentucky Derby to the Grand National, horse races have become some of the biggest events in the sporting world.

Read our list of horse racing quotes below that sum up the incredible passion and history that defines this sport.

Horse Racing Quotes

A horse gallops with his lungs, perseveres with his heart and wins with his character.
Federico Tesio

Any horse can win on any given day.
Angel Cordero, Jr.

There is a sociology of horses, as well as a psychology. It is most evident in the world of horse racing, where many horses are gathered together, where year after year, decade after decade, they do the same, rather simple thing – run in races and try to win.
Jane Smiley

I want to have a positive influence on the sport of horse racing.
Bob Baffert

Horse racing is animated roulette.
Roger Kahn

A horse doesn’t know whether the rider on his back wears a dress or pants away from the track.
Diane Crump

You try to do the best with what you’ve got and ignore everything else. That’s why horses get blinders in horse racing: You look at the horse next to you, and you lose a step.
Jimmy Lovine

There is no secret so close as that between a rider and his horse.
Robert Smith Surtees

A good jockey doesn’t need orders and a bad jockey couldn’t carry them out anyway; so it’s best not to give them any.
Lester Piggott

Three horses racing on a dirt horse racing track quotes

Also Read: 15 Interesting Facts About Horse Racing

The sport of horse racing which, at its best, showcases the majestic beauty of this animal and the athleticism of jockeys, has reached an alarming level of corruption and exploitation.
Tom Udall

A difference of opinion is what makes horse racing and missionaries.
Will Rogers

There are other things that I could do, but there’s really nothing that I love as much as horse racing.
Chantal Sutherland

Money, horse racing and women: three things the boys just can’t figure out.
Will Rogers

A Thoroughbred racehorse can go from 0 to 40 in a matter of three strides. It’s exhilarating the feeling of power underneath you is incredible. I love to learn what makes a Thoroughbred tick.
Chris McCarron

When you are on a great horse, you have the best seat you will ever have.
Winston Churchill

I don’t know how anything could be bigger than the Kentucky Derby. If you hear of something, let me know…
J. Paul Reddam

We are there to guide the horse. You have to know the trainers. Those are the people who are going to be helping you. You have to learn how to ride against the jockeys, the competition. You have to learn how to the horses would like to be ridden. So now it’s about trying to read all those things at the same time. It happens so quickly, and even all the homework that you do and all the experience that you have, it doesn’t prepare you for the Derby. Sometimes you get a really great connection with the horse, and that’s what it takes.
John Velazquez

Also Read: 10 Most Famous Jockeys in History

When you touch the dirt on the track you have the feeling, at that moment, that you are on the center stage of the universe.
Steve Cauthen

The profession of book writing makes horse racing seem like a solid, stable business.
John Steinbeck

Racing is a funny industry. One week you can be going terrible and the next week you’re on top of the world. So you just keep showing up: I keep working harder to get more opportunities, but what do you do – that’s life.
Michelle Payne

Racing is the fun part; it’s the reward of all the hard work.
Kara Goucher

To ride on a horse is to fly without wings.
Unknown

Six horses with jockeys racing on a horse racing track

It’s horse racing. If you can’t beat him one way, try to win another way.
Bob Baffert

A horse never runs so fast as when he has other horses to catch up and outpace.
Ovid

I tell you waiting for the Derby to start is the longest day of your life… It’s just a unique time of thrill and tension and worry.
Penny Chenery

Hopefully you can catch that lightening in a bottle again. 44,000 registered foals and only 16 or 18 of them make it to the Derby.
John Sosby

It’s not all about strength, there is so much more involved, getting the horse into a rhythm, getting the horse to try for you, it’s being patient and I’m so glad to win Melbourne Cup and hopefully, it will help female jockeys from now on to get more of a go.
Michelle Payne