A horse race is a sport in which horses are ridden by jockeys on a flat or jump circuit around a track to determine which one crosses the finish line first. The sport has a long history and has been practiced in many civilizations throughout the world including Ancient Greece, Egypt, Babylon, Syria, and China. It is also a common theme in mythology such as the contest between Odin and Hrungnir in Norse mythology.
Horse racing is a dangerous sport for both the horses and the jockeys. The main causes of harm are injuries to muscle, bone, or tendons and the condition called exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, which is bleeding into the lungs from over-exertion. Racehorses can be euthanized after sustaining serious injuries such as fractures or ruptured ligaments, or when they are in extreme pain or suffering.
Despite the risks, there are still many people who enjoy watching and betting on horse races. The sport is popular all over the world, and bettors can place a variety of bets, from individual win bets to accumulator bets. In addition, there are a number of different races, each with their own set of rules and conditions that must be followed.
The rules of horse racing are governed by national horseracing organisations and can differ between countries. However, there are some general rules that all races must follow. For example, there are specific rules for which horse can be declared as a winner, and how much prize money is awarded for the top three finishers. In addition, there are rules for how a dead heat is settled.
As with most industries, sectors, and sports, horse racing has been impacted by a series of technological advancements over the years. This has led to significant improvements in safety measures for both horses and their jockeys. Thermal imaging cameras, MRI scanners, X-rays, and endoscopes can now detect and monitor a number of minor or major issues during and after the race. Meanwhile, 3D printing is now able to produce casts, splints, and prosthetics for injured horses.
Before the race starts, horses are paraded and cantered to their designated starting stalls, where a team of handlers and a designated race starter will load them in order to ensure that the race is ready to start at its scheduled time. Protocols dictate the exact order in which horses are loaded into stalls, with the sequence determined by randomly-assigned stall numbers that are distributed before the race begins.
Although a number of technological advances have been made, the racehorse industry is still heavily structured around animal abuse. The use of chemicals to mask injuries and artificially enhance performance has led to a rise in serious problems for the animals, particularly those that are pushed past their limits. Jockeys are also at risk of injury and illness, with two jockeys dying or paralyzed every year and the profession having higher rates of mental health and wellbeing problems than other elite sportspeople.