Horse races offer many rules and betting opportunities. Bettors typically wager on a particular horse to win its race; other bet types, including accumulator bets – where multiple bets are made at once to increase chances of success – may also be utilized at races. No matter what form their wager takes, however, its fundamental rules always remain: first horse across the finish line wins!
Santa Anita horses prancing past the last glimpses of sunset with huge strides and smooth grace were running their backstretch race, leaving an intoxicating trail behind them. War of Will was hugging the inside rail; his rider Abel Cedillo struck his whip; McKinzie, a small-framed bay was half length behind; Vino Rosso (a dark-gray gelding) came charging from behind at the top of the stretch; 68,000 humans alternated between cheering and screaming as Vino Rosso took charge to lead. Sixty eight thousand humans switched between cheering to screaming;
The world’s prestigious flat races – such as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France and Australia’s Melbourne Cup; Caulfield and Sydney cups; Tokyo Cup in Japan; Epsom and Dubai World Cups in United Arab Emirates-are run over distances ranging between one mile and three miles, considered tests of speed and stamina for horses. As horses grow older their abilities diminish dramatically over such distances; therefore an industry practice known as “bleeding” occurs whereby legal or illegal drugs are given in order to mask injuries while simultaneously augment performance artificially.
Veterinarians and track personnel monitored horses throughout the day for signs of fatigue or injury. Bettors looked closely at horses’ coats prior to races – which should be bright with sweat rippling from its pores – to gauge whether or not they were ready to compete. If one backed out at starting gates it likely indicated fear or anger.
Horses may also suffer from the condition known as “roaring”, in which it makes an audible whistling sound during exercise due to paralysis of nerves that control muscles that raise arytenoid cartilages which open their larynx. In severe cases, surgery may be performed to secure these cartilages so they will no longer move when breathing in air.
While most racegoers focus on the results of a horse race, many fans bet on different horses to finish in specific positions in it. Depending on the type of event being run, amounts paid out for horses that finish in the top four or five places is determined through handicapping; this method of predicting an outcome takes into account various factors including past performances, bloodlines and experience on various racing surfaces.
