A horse race is a contest of speed and stamina between horses over a set distance, usually on a flat track. The horse that crosses the finish line first is declared the winner. During the course of a race, horses must navigate obstacles and other runners, and jockeys must attempt to direct their mounts in a way that maximizes their chance of winning. This requires the use of a whip and, in some cases, other tools such as tongue-ties or spurs. Using these devices to coerce horses is against the rules and can result in serious injury or even death.

While horse racing has evolved from a primitive contest of speed and stamina between two horses into a global industry that involves massive fields of runners, sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment, and enormous sums of money, the basic concept remains unchanged. Regardless of how many people attend the event, however, it is still a contest between two horses and, at its best, it is a spectacle of beauty, skill, and athleticism.

In the United States, horse races are categorized by their classifications, with maiden and allowance/optional claimer races at the bottom of the scale and graded stakes at the top. Each classification is based on the number of previous wins and losses by the horse. The higher the number of prior wins, the greater the prestige of a race. The Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes are some of the most prestigious American races.

The earliest horse races were match races in which the owners of the horses provided the purse and bets were placed as a simple wager. Agreements were recorded by disinterested third parties, known as keepers of the match books. As demand grew for more public races, open events were created with larger fields of competitors. Eligibility rules were established based on age, sex, birthplace, and previous performance and the skills of riders were tested with dash racing (one heat).

During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, stamina came to dominate equestrian racing over speed. To this day, the Kentucky Derby is one of the most prestigious races and winning it can significantly boost a breeding horse’s reputation and value. Prestige also plays a role in international races such as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Melbourne Cup, and Japan Cup.

In the wild, horses love to move and run fast. Running fast is a natural instinct, but winning a race requires a different set of skills. Unfortunately, the horse racing industry is so full of cruelty that repeated attempts at reform have failed to make a difference. On average, two jockeys die and sixty are paralyzed each year and jockeys are more prone to mental health and illness than most other elite sportspeople. The only way to save these beautiful animals is to stop them from racing altogether.