A horse race is a competitive running event between multiple runners on a track. The horses are fitted with special saddles and shoes that allow them to run, but also enable the jockeys to exert control over them. The races are typically timed, and the winning runner is determined by who covers the most distance in the allotted number of minutes. A variety of types of horse races exist, including handicapping rankings and the Triple Crown. In addition to the sport’s historical significance, horse racing has cultural and psychological implications as well.
A common way to wager on a horse race is by making a pick, or selection, in one of the multi-leg pools that pay out if at least some of the bettors correctly select the winner of the pool’s final legs. The pool sizes can be large and include several horses in each leg, which creates a high degree of volatility and can result in massive payouts for correct picks.
In the past, horse races were match races between two or at most three horses and were a simple form of betting. In these matches the owners provided the purse, and an owner who withdrew forfeited half or all of the bets. The agreements were recorded by disinterested third parties, who came to be known as keepers of the match books. John Cheny of Newmarket, England began publishing An Historical List of All the Horse-Matches Run (1729), which became the precursor of James Weatherby’s Racing Calendar (1773).
The most famous race in history is the Kentucky Derby, which was first run in 1825 and has been a part of the U.S. Triple Crown since 1902. The Derby is the only race in American Thoroughbred racing that requires a 3-year-old to compete. The race is held annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
Although the Derby has a long tradition, the first documented race was in 1651 as the result of a wager between two noblemen. The popularity of the sport grew during the reign of Louis XIV (1643-1715), who established rules for racing by royal decree and introduced betting on the outcomes of races.
Claiming races are designed to provide class relief for horses that aren’t fast enough to compete in higher classes. By allowing similar runners to compete in the same race, claiming races level the playing field and provide a risk-reward scenario for their owners. After a horse wins a conditioned claiming race it can step up into the open claiming ranks.
In the United States, a horse’s racing career is regulated by the laws of its home state. The rules can vary widely, but most states require that a jockey wear a helmet and use a whip in competition. In addition, most states require a license to operate as a racehorse trainer and have a set of training requirements for horses that are stabled there. The horse’s age, weight, owner, trainer, jockey, and race statistics are typically recorded.