A horse race is an event in which a group of horses, jockeys and other personnel compete to win a monetary prize. The monetary prize is usually distributed amongst the top finishers in the race. There are different kinds of horse races such as flat, hurdle, and jump races. Each has its own rules, but they all have one common factor: the monetary prize for the winners.

To prepare for a race, a horse will typically begin with jogs or gallops in the morning at their training center or a track. Then, as they get conditioned, they will be asked to run faster for shorter distances. This exercise is known as a breeze and it can be timed to indicate level of fitness and readiness for a race.

In a race, horses must learn to channel their energy efficiently through the course of the entire race. This is especially important when it comes to switching leads. Since racing takes place in a counter-clockwise direction, a runner will generally be on his right lead on the straightaways and his left lead around the turns. Training a horse to change leads on command is an essential skill for success in the sport.

Thoroughbreds are trained to run fast but they must also have the strength and endurance to last the distance of a race. For example, the Omak Stampede in Washington state is famous for its ‘Suicide Hill,’ a steep 62 percent slope that the horses hurtle down to finish the race. Many of the competitors have been injured or killed trying to make it down this deadly stretch.

In addition to a horse’s training and the physical demands of a race, its performance can be influenced by its age at the time of the race. For instance, a horse will have a better chance of winning if it earned its highest speed figure as a two-year-old. In this dataset, the highest speed figure was earned by Fort Prado, who ran a 108 at 2.46 years of age. Other high speed figures were earned by Sunshine Bear, who ran a 91 at 3.03 years of age and Messenger Springs, who ran a 73 at 9.46 years of age.