What is a Horse Race?
A horse race is a form of racing where horses compete for money. A jockey on a horse rides it to guide it through the race. The horses race in a track made of dirt or grass. A horse with the most points wins the race. A race can be a single race or part of a series of races known as an exotic wager.
The horse race began in ancient Greece. The sport spread to many other countries, including the United States, where the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes make up the American Triple Crown. The sport also has a number of other popular international races, such as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France, Melbourne and Sydney Cups in Australia, the Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini in Argentina, and the Durban July in South Africa.
In modern horse racing, horses are pushed beyond their limits, often under the threat of whips and illegal electric-shock devices. They are often injured, bleed from their lungs (exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage), and break down. They are then transported to slaughterhouses, where they are usually killed by electrocution or drowned in tanks of water. Despite the romanticized facade of horse racing, behind the scenes is a world of cruelty: drug abuse, abusive training for young horses, and gruesome breakdowns.
The earliest records of horse racing date back to 700 to 40 B.C. In those early races, riders steered four-hitched chariots and mounted bareback. Later, as horseracing evolved into the modern sport, horses ran with bridles and stirrups.
Horses are usually bred to be fast and strong, so they can run the distance of a horse race. The speed and power of the modern Thoroughbred has helped it become the most profitable sport in the world. The best-bred and fastest horses are prized by gamblers, who bet on them using the parimutuel system, which pays winners all of the money wagered by other players minus a percentage taken out by the track.
To be in the money in a race, a horse must finish in the top three or more places. A horse that is “in the money” receives a share of the winning purse. A horse that is not in the money is out of the race.
A jockey’s job is to steer the horse and keep it on course, while urging it to run faster than its rivals. To do this, a jockey uses the whip. A jockey who does not use the whip is called a hand rider.
A horse’s performance in a race is judged by its speed and endurance, as well as its handling abilities. The ability to handle is determined by a horse’s experience, its training, and its physical condition. A well-trained horse will be smooth and easy to maneuver, and it will be able to travel at a rapid pace while maintaining good form. A well-handled horse can be guided to victory by a skilled jockey.