The Latin is harena, designating the sand that covers the hard-packed dirt surface of the track. The racecourse is approximately 634 yards long and 86 yards wide. The seven laps of a race constitute 3-4 miles, a true test of stamina for both horses and drivers. Today little is left of the Circus Maximus except the long flat shape of the track. This model of a circus gives an idea of the shape of the track:
