A horse race is a sport in which horses are put to the test by being forced to run at speeds that often cause injuries. This event has been a mainstay in society and continues to be an exciting spectacle to watch. However, behind the romanticized facade of a horse race lies a world of drug abuse, gruesome breakdowns, and slaughter.
As a sport, horse racing is a complicated affair, with many different rules and regulations that differ based on state and jurisdiction. For example, a jockey may not be allowed to use certain whips in one country, but can use them in another. The punishments for horses and trainers who break these rules also vary widely based on jurisdiction.
The earliest races were match races between two or at most three horses. The owners of each horse provided a purse, and bettors placed wagers on which horse would win. The match books were recorded by disinterested third parties, known as keeper of the matches. When a horse withdrew, it commonly forfeited half of the money wagered. This became the model for organized racing.
In the early days of horse racing, horses were bred for speed and stamina. By the mid-1830s, the sport had grown so popular that it roused more interest than a presidential election. An English traveler noted that a race in New York had seventy thousand spectators.
During the nineteenth century, racehorses developed into thoroughbreds, and horse breeding became more sophisticated and concentrated. The American Civil War promoted thoroughbreds, as cavalrymen needed speedy mounts. By the late 1860s, there were over 130 thoroughbred racetracks in the United States, and by the late 1880s, they numbered almost five hundred.
By the end of the 19th century, horse racing was a nationwide sensation, and wagering was enormous. As a result, a variety of betting options developed, including “across the board” bets (on a horse to win, place, or show), and picks or points pools.
In order to ensure fairness, horses were given weight allowances based on their ages, sex, birthplace, and previous performance. These are called condition races, and offer the highest purses. Another type of race is an open handicap, which is a non-claiming race. The racing secretary conditions the weight allowances and a jockey’s eligibility based on his or her experience. Then there are the stakes races, which include the Triple Crown and other top events. Stakes races are open to the best horses, but bettors must place large bets in order to be assured of a winning outcome. This increases the competition and the size of the bets, which drives up the purse amounts. It is estimated that the average race winner takes home about $3 million. A smaller amount of money is paid to the runners-up. The rest of the money is shared by a pool of bettors.