A horse race is a contest between horses that is governed by set rules. The contest may take place on a flat or an oval track, and it can be a short sprint or a long-distance event. Horse races are a popular form of entertainment, and they have been around since ancient times. Archeological records show that horse racing was practiced in Ancient Greece, Babylon, Egypt, and Syria. In addition, it is a key part of many myths and legends, including the contest between the steeds of Odin and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology.
The sport of horse racing is a controversial one. Although a number of efforts to reform the industry have been made, they have all failed to bring about significant change. The fact is that the racehorse industry is structured around abuse of animals, and it is not possible to reform it without addressing the basic causes of cruelty.
The racehorse is an extraordinarily powerful animal. It is able to run at speeds up to fifty-five miles per hour, and can cover a mile in less than two minutes. Its agility and strength have made it an important symbol of power, and it is no surprise that it has been used as the model for many sports, including basketball, baseball, and football.
During a horse race, the horses compete to be the first to cross the finish line. To accomplish this, they must be conditioned to run at an optimum speed, which requires them to be healthy and in good physical condition. To help them achieve this, most horses are fed a diet of high-calorie food and are given a variety of medications and supplements. Many race horses are also given drugs to keep them calm and focused during the race.
In the United States, organized horse racing began with the British occupation of New Amsterdam in 1664. A colonel named Richard Nicolls laid out a 2-mile course, and he developed rules for eligibility that included age, sex, birthplace, and previous performance. He also established a system for determining handicapping allowances for horses and riders. Under the American system, the emphasis was on speed rather than stamina.
Horses are not bred to like running, but they must be trained to outrun opponents in order to win a race. To do so, they must be encouraged to run hard even when they are tired. This is often done by whipping. Racehorses, particularly those on oval tracks, give their lower legs a terrible pounding that strains ligaments, tendons, and joints. To protect them from kicking themselves, some horses are fitted with heavy blue bandages on their lower hind legs and are ridden with a shadow roll across their noses to reduce their susceptibility to startling shadows. In the wild, horses are prey animals and prefer to move together, away from danger. Therefore, it is not surprising that many people believe that the best way to save racehorses is to stop them from being forced to race.