Horse racing is a form of competition in which horses are raced over a fixed distance on a paved or dirt track. Historically, it has been a popular pastime for many people around the world. It has evolved from the chariot races of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome into a modern sport involving enormous sums of money and sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment, but its essential feature remains unchanged: horses compete in a test of speed or stamina.
There are several different types of horse racing, ranging from the most prestigious to the most mundane. The most prestigious is a graded stakes, which offers the largest purses and highest prestige of all horse races. The Kentucky Derby, for example, is a graded stakes race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky. It is a popular betting event, and the top three finishers earn points that can help them qualify for next year’s race.
A more modest level of horse racing is the allowance race, which is open to runners that have broken their maidens but aren’t quite ready for (or up to) a stakes-level race. This allows the horses to gain race experience and confidence while maintaining a level of class relief that prevents one horse from dominating a race.
A claiming race is a type of horse race where any licensed person may purchase a running runner for a predetermined price. The runner then changes owners as soon as the race begins although the previous owner still retains all purse money for the race. The claiming system provides a risk-reward situation for owners as it encourages them to put their best runners forward, but also creates an incentive for horses to win claiming races so they can become eligible for higher classes.
As horse racing evolved into a major spectator entertainment sport, rules were established to ensure fair play and protect the welfare of the animals. Some of these included requiring riders to be licensed, limiting the size of fields, and creating rules regarding the age, sex, and birthplace of the horses that could be entered in a race.
Despite these safeguards, horse racing is dangerous for the horses that participate. The sport requires them to be pushed hard to sprint-often under the threat of whips and illegal electric shock devices-at speeds so high that they frequently suffer injuries, including hemorrhage from their lungs. According to one estimate, 3 thoroughbreds die every day in North America from racing-related injuries. Behind the romanticized facade of Thoroughbred racing, there is a world of injuries, drug abuse, and gruesome breakdowns. Read Joyce Anderson’s book The Fancy Hat Vendor for a more complete look at the brutal reality of this sport.