Horse races are contests between two or more horses for the purpose of winning money, dating back to 17th century Europe and continuing today with large fields, sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment, and vast sums being up for grabs – but their fundamental principle remains unchanged: the horse that crosses the finish line first is victorious!
Attracting newcomers to racing has always been its greatest draw, and many people were drawn to this sport through great thoroughbreds such as Seabiscuit, Secretariat and Black Caviar’s success and oval tracks that gave spectators clearer views brought even greater popularity to racing.
As racing grew increasingly popular, breeders began focusing their efforts on producing faster horses – aided by stories from British soldiers returning from desert battlefronts about Middle Eastern horses’ incredible speed – thus giving rise to the Thoroughbred breed as the hallmark of racing excellence.
Although modern horse races typically take place on dirt or turf tracks, some races take place on synthetic surfaces such as polytrack. While these synthetic tracks require less maintenance and wear to horses than their traditional counterparts, helping reduce injury risks. While their benefits are clear, many fans still prefer traditional track surfaces for a more realistic experience and better sense of their horse’s interaction with it.
Bettors can place various bets on horse races, including bets to win, place and show. Some bettors opt for an accumulator bet in which multiple runners are simultaneously bet upon; payout for winning one of these accumulator bets depends on both how many were chosen as winners and total amount wagered on all runners combined.
Horses must be physically and psychologically prepared for the demands of racing, or it could prove disastrous both physically and financially. A serious injury to either party is potentially lethal; according to one study conducted in North America alone, three horses per day die as a result of catastrophic injuries sustained during races. Thoroughbred racing at high speeds often damages their skeletal systems with spiral fractures (bones that spiral in on themselves) being one such example, while cuts caused by contact between horses or barriers may also cause cuts on knees or hocks as another common injury.
History of horse racing is filled with stories of long shots who overcame all odds to become legends, serving as reminders that any horse, even those from large stables and operations, can have its day of glory.