A furlong in horse racing is a unit of distance equal to one-eighth of a mile, which corresponds to 220 yards, 660 feet, or approximately 201.17 meters
. This measurement originated from Old English agricultural terms and was standardized around the 1300s to this length
. In horse racing, furlongs are commonly used to measure race distances, especially for shorter races (sprints) under one mile. For example, a six- furlong race is three-quarters of a mile, and the classic Kentucky Derby distance is 10 furlongs (1ΒΌ miles)
. Tracks often have posts marking furlong distances to help jockeys gauge how far they are from the finish line
. Thus, a furlong is a key traditional unit still widely used to describe and organize horse races, particularly in the United States and other English- speaking countries.
