Why Do Horses Race Counterclockwise? U.S. Tradition

Last updated: October 18, 2026

Watch a horse race around an American oval, and every turn is to the left. Watch racing overseas, though, and you may see the field going the other way.

Quick answer: Horses race counterclockwise around U.S. ovals mainly because of tradition. Kentucky pioneer William Whitley is often credited with helping establish the practice: in the late 1700s, his track at Sportsman’s Hill ran counterclockwise in a deliberate break from English custom. Horses can race in either direction, but counterclockwise became the American standard.

Here’s where the tradition came from, what it means for how horses train, and which way they run in other countries.

Horses racing counterclockwise to the finish line at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans — Racing counterclockwise to the wire at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Why Do Horses Race Counterclockwise in the U.S.?

The American direction is usually traced to William Whitley, a frontiersman who settled near Crab Orchard in Lincoln County, Kentucky. At his farm, Sportsman’s Hill, he laid out an oval track that the Kentucky Historical Society says was run counterclockwise, “bucking English tradition,” and built on clay instead of the turf used on British courses. The historical markers at the site also credit him with racing his horses counterclockwise instead of clockwise.

Whitley’s track is an early example of the counterclockwise tradition. As American racing grew, that direction stuck, and today it’s standard on North American racing ovals.

The home of William Whitley at Sportsman's Hill in Lincoln County, Kentucky — William Whitley’s home at Sportsman’s Hill, near the site of his counterclockwise track.

Are Horses Built to Run Counterclockwise?

No. Horses can race clockwise or counterclockwise, and Japan’s racing association, for example, runs courses in both directions. What matters through a turn is the lead the horse is on. According to Kentucky Equine Research, a horse turning left is generally most comfortable on its left lead, while either lead works on a straightaway, and horses change leads during a race. In the research it summarized, about 91% of Thoroughbreds broke from the starting gate on the right lead. Lead preference and track direction aren’t the same thing.

Horses can favor one side, but that doesn’t limit them to turning one way. American racehorses also get plenty of practice going counterclockwise, since that’s the direction they gallop and breeze.

Do Racehorses Train Counterclockwise, Too?

Yes. According to the Retired Racehorse Project, all U.S. racehorses train at galloping speed or faster only counterclockwise. Horses that are jogging usually go the opposite way, clockwise along the outside rail, as a safety measure. That way, the riders on jogging horses can see the faster horses coming toward them.

Horseman’s Take Go out to the track at Folsom or the Fair Grounds in the morning, and you’ll see horses jogging clockwise, the wrong way, along the outside rail, then turning around to gallop counterclockwise. Their fast work goes the same direction they’ll race.

Horses racing counterclockwise on a dirt track — Racehorses heading into the turn at a North American track.

Which Way Do Horses Race Around the World?

North American racing ovals all follow the same direction. Elsewhere, the direction depends on the course:

North America. Racing around ovals is left-handed, meaning counterclockwise, according to a Team Valor guide to racing overseas.
Britain and Ireland. Courses vary, and the same guide notes that racing can be left-handed or right-handed depending on the venue.
Japan. The Japan Racing Association lists Tokyo, Niigata, and Chukyo as left-handed, while Nakayama, Kyoto, Hanshin, and its other courses are right-handed.
Australia. Direction varies by venue. Melbourne’s Flemington, home of the Melbourne Cup, runs anticlockwise.

A horse shipping overseas may need time to adjust if the new track runs the opposite way from the one it trained on.

Why Do Racehorses Walk Sideways?

A racehorse that jigs sideways next to its pony or swings its hindquarters out on the way to the gate is usually fresh and eager to go faster than its rider will let it. The crowd, the noise, and the walk to the starting gate all wind horses up. Sideways movement can also come from a horse spooking at something, avoiding pressure, or being uncomfortable, so look at the whole horse, not one sideways step.

Horseman’s Take I’ve had plenty of horses do this in the paddock and on the walk to the gate. My horse Electric Man jogs a little sideways when the outrider and the pony horse lead him to the gate.

Handicappers watch for it, too. The American Quarter Horse Association lists nervous lunging and a horse “spinning out so they are at a 90-degree angle to the lead pony” among the negative signs to look for during the post parade. One sideways step doesn’t say much about a horse’s chances. Watch whether it settles beside the pony or keeps fighting its rider.

Miles Henry

About Miles Henry

Racehorse Owner & Author | 30+ Years in Thoroughbred Racing

Miles Henry (legal name: William Bradley) is a professional horseman based in Folsom, Louisiana. He holds Louisiana Racing License #67012 and has spent over three decades managing Thoroughbreds at premier tracks including Fair Grounds, Delta Downs, and Evangeline Downs.
Expertise & Hands-On Experience: Beyond the track, Miles has decades of experience in specialized equine care, covering everything from hoof health and nutrition to training protocols for Quarter Horses, Friesians, and Paints. Every guide on Horse Racing Sense is rooted in this “boots-on-the-ground” perspective.
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