A horse race is a contest of speed between horses that are ridden or pulled by jockeys. The goal is to get one’s horse over a series of hurdles or fences and then across a finish line before any of the other horses. In many countries, betting on horse races is a popular pastime with punters hoping to win money by placing a bet on the winner of each race.
A major draw of horse racing is the spectacle of powerful and beautiful Thoroughbreds running at full tilt. In addition, the sport has often offered a lifeline to impoverished state governments that have extracted steep taxes in exchange for legalizing betting on horse races.
Among the most popular types of races are handicaps, in which horses are given varying weight allowances to ensure fairness and a level playing field. For example, younger horses are given less weight to carry than older ones and females are allowed to compete against males in certain races.
Some horse races are called stakes races, which means that the winners will earn a certain amount of prize money. Stakes races are usually held at the highest level of the sport and are highly regarded. Runners in a stakes race can also have their performances graded, which is based on previous performance.
In North America, horse races are often rated as either Grade I, Grade II or Grade III based on the quality of previous winners. A Grade I race is considered the most prestigious, followed by Grade II and then Grade III races.
The roaring sound heard by some horses while they run is a result of a condition known as laryngeal hemiplegia, which is characterized by a partial or total paralysis of the muscles that elevate the arytenoid cartilages and open the airway. The condition is most common in older horses, but can affect horses of all ages.
In addition to judging a horse’s physical condition, many bettors also look at its coat in the parade ring before a race. A bright and gleaming coat is considered an indication that a horse is ready to run. On the other hand, a dull coat may signal that it’s a tired or injured horse.
Other terms that are used in horse races include:
lead pony: A pony whose job is to walk the racehorses from the paddock to the starting gate for the start of a race.
runner-up: A horse that comes in second place in a race.
track record: A record of a racehorse’s overall performance on a particular racetrack.
post position: The stall number of the starting gate from which a horse enters a race.
pre race warm up: A workout aimed at preparing a horse for the main event of a race day.
In the past, horse race fans would cheer a horse by its number rather than its name. However, with the rise of Seabiscuit and other crowd-pleasing Thoroughbreds, bettors generally rooted for their favorite horses by name.