The equestrian events took place in the Hippodrome, a wide, level, open space with two pillars at the ends, one marking the start and the finish, and the other marking the turning post. The course itself was divided along its axis by a partition of stone or wood, called the embolon, in which the horses and chariots ran. A distance of 4 stades (769 m) was covered on each circuit.The horse races were held at Olympia.
The course was 6 laps around the track (4.5 miles), and there were separate races for full-grown horses and foals. Jockeys rode without stirrups.
There were three types of horse races held: the keles , for fully grown horses with a rider (beginning 648 B.C.), the kalpe, for mares (beginning 496 B.C.), and a race for foals (beginning 256 B.C.). The kalpe was unique in that on the last lap the rider dismounted and, while holding the reins, ran alongside the horse to the finish. It is not certain whether or not the rider used a saddle cloth.
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