A horse race is a competition between horses that involves a wager and the award of prizes for winning competitors. Horses are bred for racing in order to earn money for their owners and the sport is popular throughout the world. Horse races are also a major part of myth and legend, including the contest between the steeds of Odin and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology. The term can also be applied to any type of close form of competition involving animals or humans.
The sport is governed by state and national laws, although long-term policy decisions are often made by the Jockey Club in England. Racing is a multi-billion dollar industry that generates revenue from admissions, hospitality, merchandise sales, wagering and sponsorship. Despite its huge financial success, the industry is facing declining popularity and attendance. In recent years it has suffered from increased scrutiny of equine cruelty, drug abuse and the gruesome breakdowns and deaths that occur regularly on race days.
Most horse races are won by the quickest horses who can cover a set distance in the least time. The fastest horses are usually able to reach speeds of up to 120 miles per hour or more. To determine which horses are the fastest, judges known as stewards use a timing device to measure each horse’s speed as they race around the track. The quickest horse is declared the winner and awarded prize money.
The horses are led to the starting gate by a trainer or exercise rider who attaches a small riding saddle called a bridle. Each bridle has a metal or rubber bridle rein that fits in the horse’s mouth and allows the jockey to exert control over the animal. The bridle rein is used to guide the horse and keep it from turning aside or running out of control as it moves through the crowds.
Once the horses are on the course, a race referee oversees the contest to ensure that the rules of the game are being followed. The starter will activate a timer and the runners are then expected to complete the specified distance within a certain amount of time. Stewards and patrol judges watch the action to spot any rule violations. If a race is very close, the finish may be photographed to determine the outcome.
While the majority of horse races are governed by state and national regulations, many major events take place at high-profile venues, such as Royal Ascot in London or the Kentucky Derby in the United States. Spectators at these events wear elaborate hats, dress in fashionable clothes and sip mint juleps. Spectators are encouraged to make bets on the winners and some do so by using online betting systems.
Behind the glamorous facade of Thoroughbred racing is a world of injuries, drugs, gruesome breakdowns and slaughter. The sport is notorious for a cocktail of legal and illegal substances that are injected into the horses in an attempt to mask their injuries, boost performance, and prevent bleeding from a condition known as exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH). Many of these drugs are banned in other sports such as soccer and baseball.