Horse races are competitive running events held between thoroughbred horses. As spectator sports, bettors place wagers on who will win each race, drawing crowds. Though some may view horse racing negatively, many owners find it entertaining and profitable – some notable races include Kentucky Derby, Royal Ascot and Melbourne Cup with fans wearing fancy hats and dresses turning out.
Horse racing has an illustrious and longstanding history dating back to ancient civilisations. One of the first documented instances of organized horse races were ancient Egypt’s chariot races; later as equestrian culture spread worldwide, modern forms of horse racing emerged in Asia, Europe and North America.
Modern horse racing takes place on various surfaces, from dirt to grass. Each track’s governing body sets rules that vary by country and region; some use artificial surfaces such as polytrack which is less slippery than traditional dirt; sand surfaces are commonplace in Australia and New Zealand; regardless of surface used, horses must be in top physical condition to win races; otherwise injuries or death could ensue.
Preparing for a race starts with daily jogs and gallops in the morning. Jogging helps familiarize muscles in a horse’s legs with exertion while also building conditioning. Soon thereafter, trainers may ask their runner to work or breeze – running faster for longer at an increased pace with no break in between runs – which helps determine their level of fitness and readiness for competition. These workouts may also be timed, providing insight into a horse’s state of readiness prior to competition.
Horses in training also commonly receive medications during training sessions to combat inflammation and pain, such as corticosteroids injections to decrease swelling. Havnameltdown’s death as an American contender in the Preakness Stakes has raised significant questions regarding drug usage within horse racing; postmortem findings on his posthumous examination included osteoarthritis, severe degenerative joint changes and bone cysts – holes within bones.
Horses have evolved to be fast and agile animals, yet they must learn how to focus their energy in the correct areas of a racecourse. This is especially important on sloppy surfaces. To overcome this, horses must learn to switch leads – traditionally one horse will lead the pack while the other leads from behind – successfully during each race. If a horse fails to switch leads properly it could suffer serious injury or worse, even death – making skilled jockeys essential in order to achieve victory at racing.