Horse racing is a popular sport in which horses are ridden by jockeys or pulled by sulkies driven by drivers. It is an international industry and has become a very fast-growing activity. The reason for the rise of horse racing is attributed to its popularity as a spectator and betting activity, as well as to the growing number of thoroughbred breeders that have increased the number of race horses in competition.
Horse races have been held for thousands of years and the first recorded accounts of horse racing date back to the Greek Olympic Games in 700 to 40 B.C. Since that time horse racing has spread around the world, becoming a huge industry in many countries and drawing thousands of fans and millions of dollars in wagers every year.
While the romanticized version of horse racing seen in movies and on television may portray a sport of beautiful women wearing silks sipping mint juleps, behind the scenes is a world of drug abuse, gruesome injuries, breakdowns and slaughter. Horses used for racing are forced to sprint-often at speeds that cause traumatic injuries to the muscles and bones-while spectators watch in awe. Increasing public awareness has resulted in some improvements in basic horse-racing standards, but much work remains to be done.
There are several different types of horse races, including steeplechases and handicapped horse races. A steeplechase is a type of hurdle race that is run over fences. In a handicapped race, a horse must have a certain pedigree to be eligible to compete. To qualify for a handicapped horse race, a horse must have a father and a mother that are both purebred members of the same breed.
A horse must be a certain age and sex to be eligible for a specific type of race. In addition, a horse must have a certain amount of experience and a winning record to qualify for the most competitive classes. These conditions are set by the Racing Commission, which is a group of officials responsible for the administration of racing rules and regulations.
The horse racing calendar is published weeks or even months in advance, which allows trainers and owners to plan a schedule of races for their horses. However, it can be frustrating when a horse points for a race and then the event is canceled or an extra race opens up that a horse cannot fit into. This type of situation requires creative thinking to get the horse into a race and it can sometimes require a horse to move up in class. The best trainers are able to keep their horses in the right classes and they are rewarded for their efforts by seeing their horses win. For example, a horse that wins a Grade I stakes is worth $1 million. This can make the career of a successful trainer that can get their horses into top races quite lucrative. A winning bet on a horse that wins the race pays three ways and a bet on a horse that finishes second earns two ways.