A horse race, also called a steeplechase or hurdle race, is a sport in which horses jump over obstacles. The sport is a combination of skill, athleticism and spectacle, and the best races are a mixture of all three. The greatest races often involve great horses – as was the case with Secretariat and Mandarin in Paris, or Arkle and Mill House in 1964. But there are other factors that elevate a race into the pantheon: the setting, the background, the context.
The equine equivalent of the great game, horse racing is a global phenomenon that is the subject of countless books, movies, and television shows. It is an enduring part of our culture and a major source of entertainment for millions of people, from casual bettors to serious handicappers. It is a sport that requires a combination of skills and an ability to bet smartly.
For the average horse, a career of running five to six days a week at a track in the summer and fall is not exactly a life of luxury. Horses have to endure pain and exhaustion that would make most humans cry for mercy. Yet despite this, many horse races are exciting, even thrilling.
One reason is that the horses are injected with a cocktail of legal and illegal drugs meant to mask injuries and artificially enhance performance. This includes drugs like Lasix, which prevents pulmonary bleeding that occurs with hard work. Until recently, most thoroughbreds received this drug before every race. It’s noted in the racing form with a “L” under the name of the horse. The drug’s side effect is that it causes the horses to unload epic amounts of urine.
Another factor that increases the excitement of a horse race is its status as a Graded Stakes race. A track handicapper will assign weights designed to match the chances of winning by different entrants. The higher the class, the more prize money.
To determine if a horse will run a good race, bettors watch it in the walking ring before the start of the event. They look at the horse’s coat, which should be bright and rippling with sweat. If it looks dull and dead, the horse is not ready to run. On the other hand, if the horse’s coat looks bright and it’s bouncing and kicking around, it is considered primed to win.
A horse’s name is usually listed at the top of the betting odds board. There is often an explanation for this, and it may include the horse’s breeding, previous performances, and race records. The number of runners and the size of the stakes money are also important factors in determining a horse’s odds. The most valuable horses are given the highest odds, while the least expensive ones receive the lowest odds. This system is designed to attract high-quality horses and encourage wagering, and it has worked well enough for horse racing to remain popular and profitable over the centuries.