A horse race is a sport in which riders on steeds compete to win a prize. It is an ancient activity that has been practiced throughout the world in various civilizations.
In a horse race, bettors wager on the outcome of a race by placing a bet on a particular competitor or team. The competition is contested by horses of varying speed, and the winner is declared after the last competing horse crosses the finish line. Horse racing has become one of the most popular sports in the United States and is a multibillion dollar industry. However, the sport also has a dark side that is often ignored by spectators. Injuries, drug abuse, gruesome breakdowns and slaughter are just some of the ways in which racehorses suffer. Increasing awareness of this reality has led to improvements in horse racing and has fueled campaigns for reform.
During the spring of their two-year-old year, horses typically compete in short sprint races (4 1/2 to 6 furlongs). This is because they are not yet ready for longer route races (8 furlongs or more).
The speed of the horses and the inherent speed of the track on a given day determine a horse’s Beyer Speed Figures. These figures measure the relative speed of a horse and are published in the Daily Racing Form.
Races are assigned a grade status by a horse racing secretary or handicapper based on the size of the purse, amount of added money and historical importance of the event. The higher the grade, the greater the prestige of the race. In addition, some races are designated as handicapped, meaning that the better horses carry more weight than the less-skilled runners in order to level the playing field.
In addition to evaluating a horse’s racing abilities, trainers must consider the overall health of their horses. Horses in training are subjected to rigorous exercise and intense competition. This can lead to serious injuries, such as a pinched back (a stretching of the hindquarters that causes pain and discomfort), a bowed leg or a plantar injury (injury to the sole or heel of the hind leg). Trainers also use drugs such as furosemide (“fushing”) or Lasix (performance-enhancing drugs cloaked as painkillers) to help horses run faster and power through injuries.
Horses are often confined in cramped quarters, resulting in physical and psychological stress. The most dangerous aspect of horse racing, though, is the frequent falls of jockeys. In a study of California horse races from 2008 to 2013, jockeys fell in 96% of races and most of the crashes were fatal. Horses may also be injured by being hit with a whip or being crowded into tight stalls. They are also prone to colic and may succumb to anesthesia or death during surgery. After a tragic accident in which a race horse collapsed during the Kentucky Derby, a Gallup poll found that 38% of Americans supported banning animal racing. In the aftermath, the Jockey Club vowed to improve safety and transparency in racing.