Horse racing is a global sport with a long history and many milestones. From its ancient beginnings as a contest of speed and stamina between two horses to today’s sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment and massive pools of betting money, horse races have undergone numerous changes throughout the centuries. But its essential feature remains the same: The horse that crosses the finish line first is the winner.
Behind the romanticized facade of Thoroughbred horse racing lies a world of injuries, drug abuse, gruesome breakdowns, and slaughter. The sport requires horses to sprint—often under the threat of electric-shocking devices—at speeds so fast that they often sustain gruesome injuries, such as hemorrhaging from the lungs. Horses are also abused with illegal substances to increase their performance and mask pain. In addition, the lack of regulation in this industry contributes to corruption and greed.
The earliest races were match races between two or at most three horses, the owners providing the purse and bets being placed on a simple wager. The earliest agreements were recorded by disinterested third parties, who came to be known as keepers of the match books. A keeper at Newmarket in England published An Historical List of All Horse-Matches Run (1729), which was the first consolidation of these matches and was the precursor to a number of other publications that followed.
Modern horse races have become increasingly complex, with many types of betting available and a variety of rules and regulations to govern them. Some of the most popular bets include betting to win, bets to place, and bets to show. Betting to win is the most popular and carries a higher payout than bets to place or show.
A horse’s coat is a key factor in its chances of winning. Bettors study it in the walking ring before a race, looking for a bright appearance and rippling with just the right amount of sweat and muscled excitement. When a horse balks, it is usually a sign of fright or anger and is considered a bad start.
Among the most important racetrack terms are stretch or homestretch (the final straight portion of the track) and clubhouse turn (generally the turn immediately after the finish line). Closing ground is a term for a horse that improves its position from off the pace in the closing stages of a race. A jockey’s silks are the jacket and cap that identify them at a racetrack; they can be generic or specific to one owner. A stud is a male horse that is used for breeding purposes. A stallion may be owned by a stable, a private individual or an institution. In some countries, a stallion is required to have at least a certain number of races in order to be eligible for stud duties. In other countries, a stallion is only able to be bred for a limited time each year.