The most common definition of horse race is a competition in which the goal is to reach a specific location on the track designated as the winning post before any of the other horses. There are a number of different types of races, depending on factors such as the size of the prize money and whether or not the race is handicapped. The racing secretary assigns weights designed to equalize the chances of entrants and studies each horse’s record to determine their likelihood of winning.

Horses are pushed to their limits and do not enjoy this ordeal or get any kind of thrill out of reaching the finish line first. Instead, they end each race sweating and exhausted and often suffering from debilitating injuries – if they survive at all.

The fact is that horse racing kills many more horses than it wins. Every year, the Grand National is one of the world’s most dangerous and deadly races. Its 4.5-mile length and huge obstacles put tremendous pressure on slender front legs that can easily get twisted or caught up in fences and cause catastrophic, life-changing injuries.

In order to keep the horses healthy and to ensure that they are able to compete, the industry uses cocktails of legal and illegal drugs to mask injuries, mask pain and enhance performance. Some of these include steroids and sedatives, which have been proven to cause bone damage, gastrointestinal problems, and liver and kidney failure. Horses are also injected with lameness-reducing drugs and painkillers, and may be given heart-pounding stimulants to make them run faster.

Despite the risks, the racing industry continues to push forward with technological advances in order to maximize the profits of its participants and to increase spectator appeal. The introduction of the electric starter gate on July 1, 1939, transformed how a horse race is conducted and accelerated the rate at which runners are sent off to the starting line. Instead of being lined up in a row with a traditional rope, all the horses are led into an electric ring of stalls, their back gates closed and then a button is hit once everyone is inside. The stalls’ front doors open simultaneously and the race begins.

The ability to assess a horse’s potential to win the race is enhanced by taking advantage of practice runs, which allow onlookers to see how each of the horses behaves in the presence of other competitors. The best time to do this is before the race starts, when horses are usually warmed up and moving around the track. Jockeys and drivers are also important to consider, since they can be a major factor in how well a horse performs. The best jockeys and drivers know how to handle their mounts, how to guide them through difficult situations, and how to take advantage of the strengths and weaknesses of each horse. This is a critical skill that can be learned from watching a number of professional races and from attending clinics.