A horse race is a competition in which a person wagers on the outcome of a contest between horses or teams of horses. It may be a flat race (over dirt or grass) or an steeplechase (over barriers, typically over water) or both. There are several different types of races, including a handicap race (where winning is not necessarily dependent on speed), an open race, and a sprint race. The term “horse race” is also used to refer to a wager on the outcome of a political election, as well as other types of contests that involve human skill, such as a poker game or dart tournament.
The sport of horse racing is not without controversy. Many animal rights activists and other critics argue that it is cruel to force a prey animal to run as fast as possible in close proximity to other animals. Some people also oppose the use of a whip to urge a horse forward in a race. In addition, the sport is often conducted in conditions that are not conducive to animal welfare, such as crowded or dirt tracks and overcrowded betting windows.
As a result of these concerns, the sport has experienced some decline in popularity in recent years. However, there are also a number of organizations dedicated to preserving the tradition of horse racing, and there is some evidence that the industry is responding to criticisms by making efforts to reduce the cruelty involved and increase transparency.
Moreover, new technology may be presenting ways to mitigate the harm caused by horse racing. For example, CT scans have been introduced at some European racetracks to identify and treat injuries such as fractures and soft tissue damage. Injuries are not uncommon, and some horses do not survive their racing careers. In the wild, horses understand the importance of self-preservation and will stop if they become injured. In racing, they are compelled by humans perched on their backs to continue at breakneck speeds.
Thoroughbreds are bred to be fast, and their massive torsos and spindly legs can be vulnerable to injuries. They are thrust into intensive training at 18 months, and they must be raced by age 2, when their bones have not yet fully matured and fused. The resulting stress can lead to a variety of problems, such as chronic ulcers, bone lesions, shin splints, and condylar fractures (in which a part of the lower leg breaks off). The suffering of a racehorse can also manifest in repetitive, compulsive behavior such as biting its gate or contracting its neck muscles while pulling backward and grunting—behavior that is generally not displayed in a herd of natural, free-roaming domesticated horses.