A horse race is a sport in which horses are pulled by humans mounted on two-wheeled carts or chariots, competing against each other for the win. The origin of organized horse racing is not fully known, but it has been popular since prehistory. It was an important part of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece and it became a formal sport during the Roman Empire, with men riding on horses instead of chariots. It was later adapted by other cultures, including the Arabians and Barbarians.
In the modern sport of horse racing, horses are usually classified by their speed and stamina. The quickest horses are called sprinters; those who can cover long distances at an average speed are called middle-distance or milers. A horse’s ability to jump is also an important factor in a race, as is its agility and endurance.
The first step in a horse race is the start, when a line of horses are released from the starting gate to begin running. The horses are positioned by the jockeys, who wear silks and hats in the tradition of the sport. The horse’s owner, or breeder, may also select a jockey to ride it during the race. As the demand for races increased, rules developed regarding eligibility of horses and the skills required to be a good jockey. A horse’s age, sex, birthplace, and previous performance are taken into account when selecting runners for races. Races were created in which owners were the riders (gentlemen riders) and where horses were limited to a particular township or county and in which only those who had not won more than a certain number of races were eligible.
When a horse races, it goes through a series of physical and psychological stresses that can lead to injuries and even death. The stressors include being whipped with a whip or other implement, running in close quarters with other horses, and traveling at high speeds. One of the most common and serious injuries is exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, in which the lungs bleed due to the high speeds at which the horses run.
The veterinary and racing communities have tried to minimize this problem by prescribing drugs, such as Lasix and Salix, to reduce the likelihood of pulmonary hemorrhage. Lasix is a diuretic that also has performance-enhancing properties. While these measures have reduced the incidence of pulmonary hemorrhage, it is still a major problem for horses in the industry. In addition, the economics of horse racing give trainers incentives to push their horses past their limits. As a result, many of the tens of thousands of American thoroughbreds who race each year are injured and some will die. According to Patrick Battuello, a researcher who runs the activist group Horseracing Wrongs, horse racing is a “Big Lie” that exploits athletes who are drugged, whipped, and pushed beyond their limits. Most of these animals will be killed by the end of their work lives, often at slaughterhouses in Canada and Mexico.