A horse race is a competition between horses that is run on a course with fixed distances. It is considered to be one of the oldest sports and has undergone little change since its origins, although modern horse races have become complex spectacles involving extensive electronic monitoring equipment and immense sums of money. A horse race may also be referred to as a trot, pace, or jump race, depending on the type of track. The sport has a long history and is practiced throughout the world. It has been an important part of myth and legend, including the contest between the steeds of the god Odin and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology.
The most common horse races are flat races, in which the horses travel over an oval-shaped track. Individual flat races can range in length from 440 yards (400 m) to over four miles (6 km), with the majority of them being between five and twelve furlongs (2 and 2.4 km). Short races are typically seen as a test of speed, while longer races are viewed as tests of stamina. All flat races must start either from starting stalls or a starting gate (although in extraordinary and emergency circumstances, any race can be started with a flag, provided the starter decides to do so and the stewards give their permission).
Horse races are regulated by the rules of each country’s horse racing authority. These differ slightly from country to country, but the majority of them follow the rulebook of the British Horseracing Authority. The rules are designed to protect the welfare of the horse and promote the integrity of the sport. The sport has a high level of risk, and injuries and even death are common, especially for the jockeys, who ride the horses. The horse’s hooves and legs are under immense pressure, and a race can cause severe damage to them if the track is not well-maintained or if the horses are pushed too hard.
Some races are handicapped, in which the racing secretary assigns weights to the entrants in order to equalize their chances of winning. Other races are open, in which all horses have an equal chance of winning. A horse is “in the money” if it finishes in the top three and receives a share of the total purse.
A horse’s color can be a determining factor in its success in the race. Thoroughbreds can be any of six colors: bay (yellow-tan to a bright auburn, with black mane, tail, and lower portion of the legs); chestnut (reddish-brown with areas of tan); black; gray (mix of white and black hairs); roan (brown with patches of white). A horse that is notably confident during a race is said to have the Look of Eagles. It is also called lugging in, when the horse drifts towards the rail in the final stages of the race, a sign that it is tired. The horse with the best look and the most speed at the end of the race is declared the winner.