Horse race is one of the most popular spectator sports in the world. It is also known as the sport of kings because in the past, ownership of a horse was reserved for royalty and nobility. Today, many people have the ability to own and race a horse through the use of modern breeding and training techniques.
The Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes are the three races that make up the American Triple Crown. These elite races are run annually and have become synonymous with the sport of horse racing. However, despite the high stakes and the acclaim that these races carry, the fact remains that horses continue to die from the exorbitant physical stress of being trained and raced. The deaths of Eight Belles and Medina Spirit, two champions who died during the apex of their careers, sparked a call for a serious examination of horse racing’s ethics and integrity.
While the for-profit industry of horse racing has taken steps to improve its practices, it is important to remember that horses are animals and should be accorded some basic rights. The death of Eight Belles and Medina Spirit, not to mention Creative Plan, Keepthename, and Laoban, are a reminder that the health and well-being of these beautiful animals is in jeopardy.
Horse races are usually run over dirt, paved turf or synthetic surfaces. The most common type of race is a flat race, in which the horses compete with each other over a fixed distance of one mile. These races are often won by the fastest horses that can maintain a consistent pace throughout the course of the race.
Other types of horse races include handicaps and sprints. In a handicap race, the racing secretary assigns weights designed to equalize the winning chances of the entrants. The handicapping system can be based on the horse’s age, class, previous purse earnings or type of wins. There are also sex allowances, in which fillies compete with lower weights than males.
Before a race begins, the jockeys (or riders) weigh in and then report to the paddock, where they meet their trainers. Then, they saddle their mounts and parade them around the ring for inspection by stewards before beginning the race.
At the start of a race, the horses enter the track through a gate called a starting gate. They then proceed to the starting stalls, where they are lined up in order of speed. The horse that starts first is called the favorite. The other horses are considered longshots.
As they near the finishing line, the horses begin to whiz by with their hooves clicking on the ground and the sound of thousands of humans cheering them on. At this point, a jockey must use his or her skill to coax a few more yards out of his or her horse.
When a horse is not running at its best, it is described as “off the pace” or having a “bad trip.” This can be due to a variety of factors, including the quality of the track, the weather or a problem with the horse’s shoes.