Each track location has its own personality, yet there are several features in common. Almost every generality about a race track can be contradicted by a counterexample somewhere.

The principal feature common to all tracks, naturally, is the oval itself. Racing in the United States is always counter-clockwise. Turns are always to the left. (At least one track has a limited right turn in a certain configuration.)

The layout of the oval may vary, but it stays generally between 8 and 10 furlongs around. (There are 8 furlongs in a mile. Races are always specified in furlongs.) Thus the track is between 1 mile and 11/8 miles in length. Normally, the length is 9 furlongs. Along the far side of the oval (from the grandstand) a straight stretch extends towards the right, past the oval. There may likewise be a straight extension on the near side to the left. These segments, called “chutes,” are used to create races of different lengths. The starting gate is mobile, so it can move to the correct location. The finish line is fixed, right in front of the grandstand (where all the high-tech photo finish equipment is poised).

For example, a standard track may be 9 furlongs around. The chutes allow for races of 6½, 7, 7½ and 8 (1 mile), as well as longer races from the front side. The last straight stretch (the “home stretch”) is 1,049 feet. Rails line both the inside and outside of the track.

Inside the inner rail is the “infield,” which often contains a turf track. The infield is also the traditional location for the “board,” which posts the status of pari-mutuel betting for the upcoming race. While there is still a board in the infield, this information is now more widely available on screens throughout the race track facilities. Outside the outer rail on the grandstand side is the “apron.” The term “railbirds” refers to the racing fans that like to go down on the apron and watch the race from the outer rail.

The track itself is 90 feet wide on the straights and slightly banked on the curves. Tracks have a slight crown in the middle, to permit drainage into the infield or out to the apron. Otherwise, tracks are flat (but there are a couple of exceptions).

Each track is marked with “poles” that indicate how much distance remains to the finish line. They are colored in stripes according to their measure (quarter miles are orchid and white, eighths are green and white and sixteenths are black and yellow). The “quarter pole” is a quarter mile (2 furlongs) away from the finish line. These markers are very important to spotters, who record the positions of the horses at various stages of the race.