A horse race is a contest of speed and stamina between two or more horses. Its basic rules have not changed much over the centuries, but modern racing involves large fields of runners, sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment and massive sums of money. It is often referred to as one of the world’s most dangerous sports and can cause significant injuries to horses, including amputations, fractures, and hemorrhage in the lungs. The sport is regulated by national and international agencies in many countries, but the governance of the sport varies from nation to nation.

The basic procedure of a horse race begins when the jockeys (riders) weigh in and report to the paddock, the section of the track where horses are saddled. An official is present to verify the weights and check for rule infractions. Saliva and urine samples may also be collected from the winning horses for testing for drugs. The races are then run over a course that varies in length, depending on custom and local conditions, but is usually between 11/2 miles (3 kilometers) and 3 miles (5 kilometers).

There are two main types of horse races: handicaps and stakes races. In handicap races, each horse is assigned a certain amount of weight to carry for fairness. This weight allowance can be based on previous performances or on the horse’s age, sex, training, and other factors. In stakes races, the highest purse money is offered to the winner, but a second and third place prize are sometimes awarded. Historically, most of the top races were handicaps, but with increasing demand for public racing and commercial sponsorship of events, stakes races became more common.

Horse race betting is one of the most popular forms of gambling in the United States and around the world. In addition to a variety of betting options, many horse races offer special wagers, such as a “Derby double” or a “Kentucky Derby triple.” These exotic bets involve placing multiple bets on individual horses in the same race.

A horse race is a complex and fascinating sport, but behind the romanticized facade of jockeys in fancy outfits sipping mint juleps is a world of broken bones, drug abuse, and gruesome breakdowns. A video that recently surfaced reveals the dark side of thoroughbred racing, exposing a system in which racehorses are subjected to torture and suffering, just like any other animals used for entertainment. The video has sparked an outpouring of anger and frustration, but this should not obscure the fact that it exposes a very real and horrific reality.