A horse race is a contest of speed, endurance and skill between two or more horses. It may be an individual or team event, with the winner awarded a purse of money or a trophy. Some horse races are contested over natural terrain, while others take place on artificial surfaces such as dirt, clay, sand or woodchips. The sport of horse racing began in ancient times, with the Romans notably known for their steeplechase competitions that involved jumping over church steeples. A century or so after that, the English introduced a form of standardized heat races, and by the mid-18th century, rules governing the age, sex, birthplace and previous performance of horses were established to create open events.
Eventually, the sport developed into the multi-million dollar business that it is today, with racetracks catering to fans and bettors from all walks of life. Many horses run in graded stakes races, which have a reputation for being competitive and provide a substantial payday to the winners. In addition, there are other, less-prestigious races that offer a lesser prize.
These races are known as claiming races, where the racing secretary or handicapper assigns weight based on a horse’s past performances to ensure that all horses have an equal chance of winning. This is a critical part of the sport, as it would be difficult to attract wagering dollars without this system in place. It also allows trainers to run horses who have not been able to win at the higher levels but haven’t yet been claimed.
Then there are optional claiming races, which are a hybrid of allowance and claiming races that allow horses who have won a certain level of claiming to run in the same race again, providing class relief and increasing field sizes. Trainers often use these races to test out a new horse, or as a means of boosting earnings for their older horses who are not in top condition.
Before the start of a race, horses weigh in and are paraded in front of an official in the paddock (the section of the track where the horses are saddled) to be inspected for any prohibited drugs. Saliva and urine samples are also tested by stewards.
Aside from the occasional case of a horse being killed during a race, the vast majority of horses who race are healthy. However, critics such as PETA claim that the industry is riddled with corruption and cruelty to animals. The activists describe abusive training methods for young horses, drug abuse and the transport of tens of thousands of American thoroughbreds to slaughterhouses abroad each year. A growing awareness of these issues is threatening to further diminish the popularity of horse racing, resulting in shrinking fan revenue and fewer race days. To help raise awareness, PETA has started a campaign called “Horseracing Wrongs” that highlights the cruel treatment of racehorses. Their campaigns are based on groundbreaking investigations of horse-racing practices, including abusive training methods and the use of drugs, as well as on documentation of horse deaths.
