A horse race is a type of sports event in which horses compete to be the first across a finish line. A number of different types of betting can be placed on a horse race, including betting to win, place, and show. Winning a bet pays out the most money, but placing and showing also offer payoffs depending on where a horse finishes in the race. In addition to the jockeys, trainers, and owners of a horse, a racetrack has many other employees, such as paddock judges (pre-race vetting officials), outriders (for track maintenance), groomers, stable hands, veterinarians, bookies, commentators, and photographers.
Horse races are often characterized by the use of horses that are specially trained to run at speeds fast enough to break the sound barrier. The sport is a multibillion-dollar industry that relies on a large workforce of trainers, groomers, and other support staff to prepare the horses for competition. The horses are typically kept in stables that are located on or near the racetrack and fed special diets to ensure they have all the necessary nutrients for racing. They are often trained to jump over obstacles as part of the race, and are given cocktails of legal and illegal drugs to mask injuries, increase their performance, and reduce their bleeding from exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH).
The most famous horse race in the world is the Kentucky Derby. The race is held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, and is open to three-year-old Thoroughbreds that have won a minimum of seven races in their career. The race has a prize fund of $2 million, and is widely considered to be one of the most prestigious races in all of horse racing.
Although the sport has a long history, its popularity has declined in recent years. The main reason is that horses become prone to injury, especially to the joints in their hindquarters. This can cause them to lose confidence in their ability to compete, which can have a negative impact on their health and well-being. In addition, the training and confinement of a racehorse can lead to mental issues that may manifest as repetitive behavior, such as cribbing (biting on its gate while contracting its neck muscles and pulling backward), and/or pacing and kicking.
Behind the romanticized facade of horse racing is a world of injuries, drug abuse, gruesome breakdowns, and slaughter. As a result, many organizations have formed to advocate for reform of the sport. In particular, animal rights activists point to the inhumane treatment of the horses and the use of illegal drugs to conceal injury and improve performance. The suffering of the horses is not limited to the races themselves, as many are euthanized in the aftermath of an accident or if they do not perform well at the racetrack. Others are then sent to slaughterhouses in Canada, Mexico, or Japan, where they are turned into dog food or glue. Our updated roundup of research on horse race coverage shows that when journalists focus on who is winning or losing instead of policy issues, voters, candidates and the news industry itself suffer.