A horse race is a sporting event where horses compete in a race around a track. The horses may be ridden or driven and there is a wide variety of tack and other equipment used for different styles of racing. Spectators place bets on the outcome of the race and it can be a profitable industry for bookmakers.

There are many types of horse races, including flat and steeplechase races. Flat races are run on turf, sand, or synthetic materials while steeplechase races involve hurdles that competitors must jump over. The best bred and trained horses can win these races. Some of the world’s most famous races are held in Europe and the United States.

The sport of horse racing has undergone a series of changes in recent years. Although the sport has retained a large number of traditions, technological advances have improved safety for both horses and jockeys. New devices such as thermal imaging cameras detect when a horse is overheating post-race, while MRI scanners and X-rays can spot a range of minor and major health problems. 3D printing technology can produce casts, splints and other prosthetics for injured or sick horses.

Before a race begins, the competing horses are positioned in stalls or behind a starting gate. The gates open when the starter signals that it is time to begin. The horses are then allowed to race with the help of a jockey. The jockey rides the horse and encourages it to go faster by using a whip, but rules restrict how often and for how long the jockey can use the whip.

Flat horse races are generally over a distance of one to two miles, and they test the horse’s speed as well as its stamina. The most prestigious flat races include the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Epsom Derby, Melbourne Cup, and Japan Cup. In addition, there are also shorter sprint races such as the Golden Mile and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

In the United States, the Triple Crown is a series of races that determines the year’s top Thoroughbred racehorse. Only 13 horses have won the Triple Crown since 1875. Each race in the Triple Crown requires a different type of horse, which makes it difficult for horses to sweep all three races.

There are numerous horse races worldwide, but the most famous is probably the Grand National in Ireland. This race is notoriously difficult for horses to win, and it is not uncommon for the winner of a Grand National to come in second or third the following year. Red Rum is perhaps the most famous horse to have ever won the Grand National, and he was the only horse to win it three times.

In the past, horse races were contested by chariots and mounted (bareback) riders. The first organized races were probably held in ancient Greece, where four-hitch chariot and equestrian competitions were part of the Olympic Games between 700-40 bce.