Horse racing has a long history in many cultures and civilizations around the world. In addition to being a popular sport and form of gambling, it has been used in war as well as a means of transport. Today, horses are primarily used as sports and leisure animals. Horse races are typically run over a variety of surfaces, including dirt, turf, and grass, and can be contested at distances from a mile to five miles. The most prestigious flat races in the world, such as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Melbourne Cup, Japan Cup, Epsom Derby and Kentucky Derby are run over distances in the middle of this range and are considered tests of both speed and stamina.
Races are often contested by multiple runners and can be won by the first horse across the finish line or, more commonly, the first horse to complete a certain number of furlongs, such as ten or twelve. The latter is often referred to as a pacer. A trotter is a horse that moves with the front and back legs on the same side, while a pacer uses its front and back legs alternately on each side. Pacers wear “hobbles” — straps that connect the front and back leg on each side to help them maintain their stride.
The Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita was an important event, and the track managers and trainers were concerned about the safety of their “equine athletes.” For decades, virtually every thoroughbred in America received a shot of Furosemide on race day, a diuretic that is noted on the race form with a boldface L. The drug’s main function is to prevent pulmonary bleeding, which hard running can cause in some horses. But it also acts as a performance-enhancing substance, making the horses more likely to run because they feel less pain. For years, racing officials could not keep up with the emergence of new medications, and penalties for breaking rules were weak.
Behind the romanticized facade of Thoroughbred horse racing lies a world of injuries, drugs abuse, and gruesome breakdowns. It is also a world of horses being forced to sprint–often under the threat of whips and illegal electric shocking devices–at speeds that can lead to serious and sometimes deadly injuries, including pulmonary hemorrhage.
In the beginning, races were match contests between two or three horses. But the pressure of public demand eventually produced events that drew larger fields of runners. Initially, these races were 4-mile heats in which a horse had to win two heats to be adjudged the winner. Eventually, these races became dash or one-heat events in which the rider’s skill and judgment was essential to victory.
As the field of horses grew larger, more complex rules were devised to determine the eligibility of horses for races based on age, sex, birthplace, and past performances. Also, handicapping techniques were honed to increase the accuracy of predictions. Despite these improvements, some handicappers still make major mistakes, which can lead to financial disaster.