A horse race is a spectacular event that enchants spectators, delights fans and thrills bettors. But behind the romanticized facade lies a world of injuries, drugs and gruesome breakdowns, where horses are often running for their lives. For many animal rights activists, the sport is a reason to demand reform or even an outright ban.
To win a horse race, the horse and rider must follow the prescribed course, jumping every obstacle (if present) and cross the finish line first. Then, the winner is awarded a certain amount of prize money.
In North America, horses run in a clockwise direction on dirt or turf courses. The runner will usually lead on one side of his body, using the legs on that side to extend farther than the other during turns and straightaways. To conserve energy and avoid tire-out, the runner must be able to change leads on cue. In addition, the horses are constantly pressed by a jockey riding on their backs. The horse’s weight must be carefully managed to prevent him from becoming exhausted too quickly.
The popular handicapping ranking system devised by author Andrew Beyer assigns a number value to each horse, which is meant to predict how well the runner will perform in a particular race. The top-rated runner will receive the highest amount of money, while the lowest-rated runner will get the least. Several other handicapping methods exist, such as the Morning Line and the Daily Racing Form.
Spectator safety is also paramount. The horse industry is constantly striving to improve track conditions and the safety of horses on the ground.
Before the advent of horse races on modern tracks, the earliest races took place wherever there was enough space and people to gather. Attendance was low until the introduction of pari-mutuel betting in the early 1900s. The introduction of bookmakers brought more people to the track and helped make the sport profitable. The popularity of great racehorses such as Man o’ War also fueled growth.
A thoroughbred horse can earn millions of dollars throughout his career by winning prestigious races, such as the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. However, only 13 horses have ever won the Triple Crown.
A horse must be a certain age and have won a minimum of races to qualify for those events. If he doesn’t meet those requirements, he can run in an allowance race, which is a lower-level event. These races might be restricted by other “conditions,” such as whether the horse has won a certain type of race or not, how recently it has raced or its experience level. The condition of the race may also affect how much weight a horse must carry.