A horse race is a close and intense form of competition. It is often used to describe political contests and elections, but it can be applied to a wide variety of contests.
Horse races are held at tracks, rodeos and other venues. They are contested by trained horses that are ridden by jockeys. They can be a thrilling sport to watch, but they can also be dangerous for the animals. Horses are not designed to run long distances and are often injured during the course of a race. Despite the risks, horse races continue to be popular in the United States and many other countries.
The earliest races were match races between two or three horses, with owners providing the purse. Bettors placed bets on the outcome of each race, and agreements were recorded by disinterested third parties who became known as keepers of the match book.
Early racing would look familiar to today’s racing fans, with horses being classified by age and sex and carrying fixed weights, which were determined by the track’s handicappers. Those with more experience were given more weight, and winners carried more than losers. The earliest races also were limited in length, with a minimum distance of one mile and a maximum of four miles.
By the 19th century, a horse race was a popular sport in Europe and North America. It was promoted by wealthy patrons, who would send their best horses to race in major cities and receive the results of each race on paper. The sport was regulated by rules including the Jockey Club, which set breed standards and prohibited a number of activities.
While random drug testing is in place, the use of illegal drugs to enhance performance remains commonplace on the track. Trainers will often medicate their horses to mask injuries and help them perform better. Sadly, this is not always successful and many horses suffer from a painful condition called exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage or bleeding in the lungs. This causes the horses to bleed from their nostrils and throat and can be fatal. Those who do not die from this are euthanized or sent to the slaughterhouse.
In the past, horse racing was dominated by powerful, influential moneymen, who controlled the entire industry. This power structure was broken during the pandemic when TVG, an all-racing channel included in most sports cable packages, started broadcasting live racing, and many newcomers to the sport began watching it. In addition, the throngs of working-class men that gather in bars and restaurants to watch races on TVG are the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable crowds to be found at any racetrack. They regularly curse in Spanish and Chinese, and their chants reverberate through the grandstand and can be heard throughout the city.