A horse race is a contest of speed among horses that are either ridden by jockeys or pulled by sulkies and their drivers. This sport is a major industry that contributes billions to the economy around the world. It is also an important spectator sport, with historic tracks like Belmont Park and the Kentucky Derby attracting large crowds each year. It is a sport that has seen many technological advancements over the years, including photo finishes and advanced breeding selection techniques.
There are two main types of horse races, Flat racing, where the horses gallop directly around a straight or oval track, and Jumps racing (known in Great Britain and Ireland as National Hunt) where the horses compete around a track while jumping over hurdles. Both of these types of races have their own governing bodies.
National governing bodies set rules for how horse races should be run and stewards are on hand to ensure these rules are followed. While the rules may vary slightly between different national governing bodies, most have their roots in the original rulebook established by the British Horseracing Authority in 1877.
During the 1700s, Thoroughbred racing became popular in England among the aristocracy. In the beginning, these races were closed events in which only a select number of horses would be entered and the winner was declared by drawing lots. Later, these races were opened to the public and new rules were developed. These included that all horses entered in a race had to be bona fide property of their owners, thus preventing “ringers,” superior horses that were fraudulently entered against inferior ones; the requirement of certificates of age; and penalties for rough riding.
In the 19th century, a long-standing reciprocity between the various stud books of different countries was broken when the Jersey Act was passed by the English Jockey Club. This disqualified many Thoroughbred horses bred outside of England or Ireland, supposedly to protect the breed from infusions of American sprinting blood. In reality, the act was more about preserving the profits of the racetrack owners and limiting the number of British racing champions that could be bred abroad.
The most prestigious horse races in the world are run over distances of one-and-a-half to three miles, which are considered tests of both speed and endurance. These distances are suited to Thoroughbreds because they have more type II-a muscle fibers than other breeds. These are specialized fibers that can function for longer periods of time without oxygen and provide the horse with the ability to reach high speeds over extended distances.
In the US, horse races are broadcast on television and radio and can be streamed online through sites such as TVG. Some of the biggest races are the Triple Crown and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The latter is a prestigious race that only the best horses have a chance of winning, and this gives the winner an enormous boost in prestige and value for breeding purposes.
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