A horse race is a competitive event in which horses compete against each other for a prize. The contestants are ridden by jockeys, who have the responsibility of guiding their mounts around the course and jumping all obstacles (if present). This sport is often criticized for being cruel to animals, but some people believe that the sport represents the pinnacle of achievement for the competitors.

Horse racing is a global phenomenon that dates back millennia. The earliest recorded races were in ancient Greece, where participants used chariots pulled by four-horse teams to run a distance. Later, this activity became a major part of the Olympic Games in 700 to 40 B.C. Xenophon, a Greek philosopher and horseman, supplied a vivid account of the sport in his book The Art of Horsemanship.

The earliest horse races were match races in which horses contested each other for a sum of money, commonly half the purse. The first and second place finishers would then split the remainder of the purse. This system came to be known as play or pay, and agreements were recorded by disinterested third parties who consolidated and published them. These consolidated agreements were known as keepers of the match books, and one such publication began in 1729 as An Historical List of All Horse-Matches Run at Different Meetings.

Modern thoroughbred horse races are typically sprinting events, in which the winner is determined by the number of yards covered in the final furlong of the race. Each race has a specific length of the final furlough, and the horses’ individual capabilities can make a difference in how well they perform.

Jockeys rely on centuries of experience, data from previous races, and intuition to plan their rides and maximize the potential of their mounts. A few extra yards can mean the difference between winning and losing a major race like the Kentucky Derby or Preakness Stakes.

Besides the sheer speed of a horse race, other factors contribute to its popularity, including betting. Fans can place wagers on a variety of outcomes, such as which horse will cross the finish line first, second, or third, and they can also bet on accumulator bets.

There are many reasons to love horse racing, but the most important reason is that it provides a glimpse of an insider world of sports and politics that is not available anywhere else. Moreover, it is a fascinating study of human behavior and the bond between humans and animals.

Behind the romanticized facade of horse racing lies a world of drugs, injuries, and gruesome breakdowns. The animals involved are forced to sprint—often with the help of illegal electric shock devices and whips—at breakneck speeds that they cannot sustain in nature. In addition, they are denied the freedom of self-preservation and are often unable to stop running in the face of their own injuries. As a result, the industry has become the focus of criticism from animal welfare groups and lawmakers.