A horse race is a competition between several horses on a track, whose purpose is to win money. There are many types of races, including handicaps, sprints and marathons. The majority of races are held in the United States and Canada. The sport dates back to ancient times, and was included in the Olympic Games as early as 740 bc in Asia Minor and the ancient Greek city of Ephesus. The modern breed of racing horse is called the Thoroughbred. The first records of Thoroughbred racing in England were published in the 16th century.
During the late 17th and 18th centuries, the sport grew rapidly, and racing developed rules for eligibility, including age, sex, birthplace and previous performance. These rules and a series of “plates” (prizes) were created to attract fans and generate more income for the industry.
Horse racing is considered a dangerous sport and is one of the leading causes of fatal sports accidents, according to the United States Center for Disease Control. Most deaths occur during the stretch run, when the horse is preparing to kick into its stride at top speed.
In addition to the risk of injury, most horses are forced to work long hours and often live in crowded stalls. As a result, they are susceptible to fatigue, which can cause them to become depressed and anxious. These equine athletes are also subjected to cocktails of legal and illegal drugs designed to mask injuries and enhance performance. Many horses will bleed from their lungs during a race, a condition known as exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. In order to decrease this bleeding, horses are given a drug called Lasix or Salix.
The first organized horse race in the United States was ordered by Samuel Ogle, Proprietary Governor of Maryland (1731-1732, 1733-1742 & 1746/47-1752). His race was held at Annapolis in 1745 and is credited with introducing organized thoroughbred racing to the continent.
Before a race begins, the jockeys (riders) weigh in and report to the paddock for instructions from their trainers. They then parade their mounts past a steward to verify identity. The jockeys then saddle up the horses and lead them to the track where they will begin the race.
During a race, the jockeys use their whip to urge the horses on. If a jockey uses too much force, it can injure the horse and lead to a fall. During the course of a race, the riders may change positions with other horses. This is known as “moving up.”
The horse racing industry is under pressure from animal rights groups, such as Horseracing Wrongs and PETA. These organizations claim that the sport is cruel and unnatural, and argue that horses are overbred, abused and killed. These animal activists point to abusive training practices, a lack of regulation, and the transport of American racehorses to foreign slaughterhouses. The industry maintains that public demand drives the popularity of horse racing, and that improvements will be made.