A horse race is a betting event in which bettors place money on which of two or more horses will come in first, second, or third. Each horse is assigned a number according to its pedigree and then placed in a particular group or division, which determines how much it will be paid if it wins the race. The horse that comes in first receives the highest payoff, followed by the second-placed horse and then the third-placed horse. The race is usually over a distance of between one and four miles (2.5 and 6.4 km).
The horse races are often called photo finishes, where a picture of the finish line is studied by a team of stewards to see which of the horses crossed the finishing line first. If the stewards cannot decide on a winner, the race is declared a dead heat. The most famous horse race in the world is the Kentucky Derby, which is held each year at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race is known for its long and storied history, as well as the tradition of lavish parades after the race.
Horse racing is an ancient sport that has been practised in civilizations across the world since the dawn of human civilization. Archaeological records show that it was common in Greece, Egypt, Babylon, Syria, and Arabia. It also plays an important role in myth and legend, as is evidenced by the contest between the god Odin and the giant steed Hrungnir in Norse mythology.
It is hard to say when horse racing as we know it today began, but by the early 18th century it was firmly established in most of Europe and North America. A wide variety of races were created and rules developed to govern them. For example, horses had to be a certain age and gender to compete in certain events; horses could not run more than once per day or on certain tracks; races were organized based on the distance, class, or grade of the field, and other criteria.
As the industry grew, more and more people became involved with it. There are a few types of participants in horse racing: the crooks who dangerously drug their horses and then dare the industry to catch them; the dupes who labor under the fantasy that the sport is generally fair and honest; and those in the middle, neither naive nor cheaters, who acknowledge that it’s more crooked than it should be but who won’t do all they can to stop it.
Even if all of the crooks and dupes were removed from the sport, the fact would remain that the sport is a bloodsport and that it kills thousands of young running horses each year. Many of these horses, like Eight Belles, die from the intense stress that they are forced to endure. They are whipped, pushed beyond their limits, and given cocktails of legal and illegal drugs that mask injuries and enhance performance. It is estimated that ten thousand American thoroughbreds are slaughtered each year for this cruel sport.