A horse race is a competition between horses, run for prize money. The horse that crosses the finish line first is declared the winner. Several types of races are held, including flat races and steeplechases. Horses of different breeds are used in the sport, though Thoroughbreds are most common. Horses are ridden by jockeys, who use whips to encourage the animals to speed up and jump hurdles (if present). The sport has long been criticized for its cruelty to horses, and many critics view it as an industry based on exploitation.
During the early centuries of horse racing, races were typically match matches between two or three horses. The winner was determined by a wager placed by the owner of each horse. An owner who withdrew from a race commonly forfeited half the purse, and later the whole purse, to the disinterested third parties who were known as keepers of the match books. The most important keepers of the match books in England were James Weatherby and John Cheny, who published An Historical List of All Horse-Matches Run (1729). Other major match-book keepers included James Fenn in Ireland and George Felstead in Australia.
The modern form of horse racing evolved into a complex spectacle, involving large fields of runners, sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment, and immense sums of money. The essential feature of a horse race has remained unchanged over the centuries, however: the winning horse is the one that crosses the finish line first.
A major type of horse race is the handicap race, in which horses compete against each other with weights that vary according to their age and other factors. Younger horses have less weight to carry than older ones. Also, fillies have lower weights than males. In addition, some races have handicap allowances for horses from different countries or other classes of racers.
For many people, the most exciting part of a horse race is watching a horse win. However, there are many aspects to this sport that make it a controversial subject. Some people believe that horse racing is inhumane and cruel to the horses, while others think that it is an excellent way for the public to be entertained.
In the United States, the Triple Crown is a series of three top-level horse races: The Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. The Triple Crown is widely considered to be the most prestigious horse race in the world.
A thoroughbred is a breed of horse that is bred to be fast and agile. The best racehorses are able to run and jump well, which is why the sport requires skilled trainers and jockeys. Racehorses are also bred to have high stamina, which is why they must be conditioned before running in races. In addition to the physical conditioning of the racehorses, race stewards must ensure that the rules are followed during the course of the race. This includes ensuring that all the horses start the race in the same order and that no horse has an unfair advantage over another at the starting gate.