The basic concept of horse racing has not changed much over the centuries. It has evolved from a primitive contest of speed or stamina between two horses into a vast public entertainment business with large fields, sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment, and immense sums of money at stake, but its essential feature remains the same: the horse that finishes first is the winner.
The term horse race can also be used to refer to the spectacle of a crowd at a horse-racing event. This is often accompanied by pageantry and the noise of thundering hooves and neighing horses. It is one of the most popular sports in many countries and attracts millions of spectators. In the United States, horse races are primarily open to horses with a specific pedigree or breed (usually Thoroughbreds) and offer the largest purses. The distance of a race varies, but most races are run at a mile or longer and generally have at least two turns. Some of the most prestigious races are called classics and were traditionally held in England, but in recent decades they have become increasingly American in character.
While there are some people who love the sport, others find it repugnant. The animal cruelty involved in the breeding and training of horses for racing is a significant reason why many people oppose it. Horses are often subjected to unnecessarily brutal physical stress while competing and preparing for future competitions, and they are frequently injected with cocktails of legal and illegal drugs designed to mask injuries and enhance performance. As a result, horses are routinely killed by catastrophic heart failures and broken limbs.
Even the most ardent supporters of horse racing admit that it is not good for the health of the animals involved. In addition, the horse race image has been used to describe political campaigns for a long time and has been criticized by those who believe that it encourages journalists to treat election polling as if it were horse racing and concentrate on candidates’ popularity and momentum rather than their qualifications, philosophies, and issue positions.
In the early days of racing, horses were bred for size and stamina rather than speed. In the 18th century, demand for public racing increased and standard races were developed in which all horses were given fixed weights and ranked according to their ability. The race rules were modified over time to include allowances for age, sex, and training, but horses still have to carry the same amount of weight in the most prestigious races. In some cases, a horse may be given additional weight if it has won more than another horse in a particular race. The resulting ranking is referred to as a handicap.