A horse race is a competition between a number of horses in which the first one to cross the finish line is considered to be the winner. The sport has evolved from a primitive contest of speed or stamina between two horses into a spectacle with huge fields of runners, sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment, and immense sums of money. Despite these changes, the essential feature of a horse race remains unchanged: the fastest and best-trained horse wins.

The sport of horse racing is a popular spectator event around the world. People attend horse races to watch the spectacle and place bets on which horses they think will win. Those who bet on the winning horse often win large amounts of money.

There are many different types of horse races, and each has its own rules and regulations. For example, in flat horse races (not steeplechases or hurdles), the pedigree of a horse is important. In order to be eligible for a race, a horse must have a sire and dam who are both purebreds of the same breed. The horse must also meet certain minimum age and weight requirements.

In addition to these regulations, there are rules about the type of whip a jockey can use and how often. In order to reduce the risk of injury, some races limit the number of times a jockey can use a whip during a race. A jockey is a person who rides and trains a horse for a race.

The most famous horse race in the world is the Kentucky Derby, which is held each year on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race features three-year-old Thoroughbred horses competing for a purse of $3 million. The Derby is the first major race of a horse’s career, and it is often a stepping stone to bigger races.

Another popular type of horse race is the handicap race, which adjusts the amount of weight a horse must carry throughout the course of the race. The weights are based on a variety of factors, including a horse’s age and past performance. In general, younger horses must carry lighter weights than older ones. The sex of the horse is also taken into consideration, with fillies carrying less weight than males.

Behind the romanticized facade of horse racing is a world of injuries, drug abuse, and gruesome breakdowns. Pushed beyond their limits, horses sprint at speeds so fast that they often sustain injuries and bleed from their lungs, a condition called exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. In an attempt to mask these problems, many horses are given cocktails of legal and illegal drugs.

While horse racing has a long history, there have been some recent changes to the industry’s safety standards. Congress has passed laws that require some oversight of the horse-racing industry, and a new agency, the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), began monitoring the industry in 2022. The HISA has set some high standards for the industry, and it is expected to increase safety.