A horse race is an event in which a field of horses competes to be declared the winner. In the early days of racing, it was generally winner-take-all, but as races grew larger and more public, rules were put in place based on age, sex, birthplace, and previous performance. In addition, the pedigree of a horse must be pure to be eligible to compete in a race. This is a requirement in flat horse races, but not steeplechases.
A major type of race is the handicap race, in which each entrant is assigned weights designed to equalize their chances of winning. Different weights are allocated based on the age of the horse, with allowances provided for younger horses and females competing against males. The most prestigious races are called stakes races and offer the largest purses.
Horses are bred to be fast and powerful, but the stresses of hard running can cause them to overheat. This can lead to pulmonary bleeding, which causes horses to lose massive amounts of fluid. To counteract this, most Thoroughbreds are injected with Lasix on race day. The drug’s diuretic properties allow the horses to release epic amounts of urine, twenty or thirty pounds worth.
The Jockey Club was founded in 1897 to end this “reprehensible practice” that injured and killed horses, but the organization’s concern seemed less about the welfare of the animals than about the profits of owners and bettors. In 1909, California banned wagering on horse racing, but this did little to improve conditions for the horses, who were forced to sprint at speeds so high that they often suffered gruesome breakdowns and even hemorrhaged from their lungs.
During the race, the jockey rides a horse with his hands in the stirrups to direct its movements. The jockey also uses his hands to apply pressure with the whip when the horse is needed to move forward or make a turn. A good jockey will use a light touch on the reins and be able to “feel” the movement of the horse’s feet, which will allow him or her to steer the horse through difficult situations without losing control.
When betting a race, you can bet ‘to win,’ ‘to place,’ or ‘to show.’ Winning bets pay out the top two finishers, ‘place’ pays third and’show’ pays for first, second or third. ‘To show’ is much easier to win than ‘to win,’ but the payouts are usually lower. Some people bet’show’ to play it safe while others prefer to risk more money in the hope of a higher payout. The tote board, which is usually located in the infield of a track, displays all current bets and odds for each race. The tote board is updated regularly, but the odds change as the number of bettors changes. The total amount of money wagered on a race is known as the handle.