Horse racing is the world’s oldest and most famous sport, a contest of speed or stamina between two horses. It has evolved from a primitive contest to one that features large fields of runners, sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment, and immense sums of money, but its essential feature remains unchanged: the horse that finishes first is the winner.
While the exact dates of the first horse races are lost in prehistory, both four-hitch chariot and mounted (bareback) racing were popular at the Olympic Games of Greece in the period 700-40 B.C.E. Horses also were a significant part of organized public entertainment in the Roman Empire and China.
Horse races are run over a variety of track surfaces. The most common are dirt and turf. Each type of surface has a unique effect on the way a horse runs. For example, turf tracks provide a more slippery surface for the horse to grip while dirt tracks are designed to provide more consistency. Some horses prefer one surface over the other, but the overall goal is to get the horse from start to finish in as little time as possible.
When a horse runs, it creates a “sprint” with its front legs while it uses its rear leg to power itself forward. The leg on the back, called the flexor tendon, works like a big spring, stretching and then re-engaging as the horse moves to help it run faster. A well-conditioned horse is able to generate tremendous speed with this technique.
Many horse races are won by a small number of horses. To be eligible to race, a horse must have a pedigree, or family tree, that includes a sire and dam who are purebred individuals of the same breed as the horse. This means the horse must be a thoroughbred, for instance.
The horse industry is rife with illegal drugs that can be used to mask injuries and enhance performance. For instance, most racehorses are injected with Lasix, a diuretic that is noted on the racing form with a boldface “L.” The drug helps decrease pulmonary bleeding that occurs when horses push themselves to extreme limits.
Nick Alexander, a trainer in California, said that when he had horses at Santa Anita, the track’s rough surface made it hard for them to stretch and rebound as they ran. Consequently, they often were beaten by horses with more natural spring in their legs. That’s why he says that he and most of his colleagues use the legal drug Lasix in their races. In addition to masking the effects of hard running, it also increases a horse’s endurance. This is what makes them run faster and longer, even if the drug causes them to unload epic amounts of urine–twenty or thirty pounds’ worth. Then, when they are done with the track, they need to drink more water to rehydrate. This is why it’s so important to stay hydrated.