Horse racing is an equestrian sport, in which horses are harnessed and jockeyed in order to race each other. The horses are usually Thoroughbreds, a breed developed in England for both racing and jumping. The sport originated in the 18th century, though horse racing has a longer history. It was practiced in ancient Greece, Rome, Babylon, Syria, and Arabia, and played an important role in mythology as well, for example, in the contest between Odin’s steed Hrungnir and the giant Fenris Wolf in Norse mythology.
A horse race is a sporting event, typically run over a set distance on a course of dirt or turf. The races are typically divided into a number of classes or divisions, depending on the type of race and the level of competition, which is determined by the horses’ ability to perform in certain conditions. Each class or division carries a prize. Historically, these prizes have been cash payments or items of apparel, such as hats and jackets.
The earliest races were match races between two or at most three horses, in which the owners provided the purse and bettors placed a simple wager. Eventually, agreements between the owners and bettors were recorded by disinterested third parties, who came to be known as keepers of the match book. One of the earliest keepers at Newmarket in England published An Historical List of All Horse-Matches Run (1729). This consolidation and standardization of match books helped make horse racing more accessible to the general public, who could place bets on the outcome of each race.
As the demand for public racing increased, the race courses and rules of the game became increasingly standardized. The number of races also increased. Rules on eligibility of horses based on age, sex, and birthplace were established, as was a system of handicapping, in which a horse’s performance was compared to those of other runners.
The most prestigious race in the world is the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, which was first awarded in 1931 to a horse named Sir Barton. Since then, only twelve horses have won the award, including Secretariat in 1973 and Affirmed in 1978. The Triple Crown is a symbol of the greatest display of individual equine brilliance.
In addition to the Triple Crown, there are a number of other significant events, such as the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. These races are the top of the racing season and attract a celebrity audience. Those who do not take part in the actual races often watch them on television, with some even betting on them remotely, such as by placing bets via online horse racing sites.
Behind the romanticized facade of horse racing is a world of injuries, drug abuse, and gruesome breakdowns. According to the animal rights group Horseracing Wrongs, a great many of the horses used for racing are drugged with cocktails of legal and illegal substances in order to mask their pain, speed up their recovery, and artificially enhance their performance. In the end, most of these animals will be slaughtered.