Horse racing is more than just a sport; it is an international cultural event steeped in time-honored traditions and full of pageantry. From chariot races to modern day events like the Melbourne Cup, horse racing has a history of competition and elegance that continues to capture the hearts of fans worldwide.

The sport has also developed its own jargon that is often used by horse racing experts to make betting predictions. For example, if a horse is said to be “in the money,” this means that it finished first, second or third and paid out at the betting windows. Using a combination of math, intuition and horse sense, handicappers try to find big scores by picking horses that are likely to win.

When talking about the race itself, a variety of terms can be used, including the horse’s distance, type of race and weight assignment. The most important term, however, is the purse. The purse is the amount of prize money that is awarded to the winners of a race. This number is usually announced weeks or months ahead of the race and is a major factor when determining how much to wager.

A horse’s age is another important factor when making a wager. A young horse is referred to as a colt, and a mature horse is called a stallion. A jockey is a person who rides a horse during the race, and his or her job is to urge the animal on by directing it with their hands and legs. Some jockeys may use a whip to urge their horses along, while others choose to “hand ride” their mounts by rubbing their hands up and down the animal’s neck.

While horse racing has maintained a vast majority of its traditional rules, regulations and customs, the industry is undergoing a technological revolution with advances in veterinary science, technology and safety. Thermal imaging cameras can detect if a horse is overheating post-race, while MRI scanners, X-rays and endoscopes provide quick and accurate diagnoses of injuries. In addition to these technological advancements, horse racing has benefited from 3D printing that can produce casts and splints for injured horses.

There are many different parts of a horse race program that can be confusing to the novice fan. To make things easier, we have created a simple graphic that breaks down each section of a typical program. To learn more about a particular section, simply hover your cursor over the letters and numbers to view a detailed description.