What is a Horse Race?
A horse race is a competition in which humans wager on the outcome of a distance race involving a steed. The horses are guided by a jockey and have to run the prescribed course in a specified time. The winner is the first to cross the finish line. The runner-up is the next to cross, and so on. A race may have several horses or just one.
In order to participate in a horse race, a horse must have a valid pedigree, meaning that its sire and dam are both purebred individuals of the particular breed it is racing. This is not required for steeplechases or other specialized races, but in general, it is a prerequisite for any flat horse race.
While horse racing has kept many of its traditions and rituals, the industry has been impacted by a host of technological advances over the years. The most important development is in the area of race safety. Horses are subject to a multitude of medical testing and monitoring on and off the track. Thermal imaging cameras can detect heat exhaustion in a horse, and MRI scanners and X-rays can diagnose a variety of conditions. 3D printing technology can produce casts, splints, and prosthetics for injured or ill horses.
The equine athletes had been injected that morning with Lasix, a drug marked on the race program by a bold face “L.” It is a diuretic used to prevent exercise-induced pulmonary bleeding (EIPH). Pushed beyond their limits, horses can suffer from EIPH as well as other health issues, including dehydration and laminitis. Lasix works by forcing the horse to expel epic quantities of urine, about twenty or thirty pounds.
During the walking ring before the start of the race, bettors studied the coats of the horses to see if they looked healthy or tired. They also scanned the riders for a sign that they were in control. If a rider shook their head or stumbled, it was a bad sign. A frightened or angry horse could balk, and that would be a bad sign as well.
When the field of eleven horses broke cleanly from the starting gate, War of Will took the early lead around the clubhouse turn, with McKinzie and Mongolian Groom a nose behind him. Then, in the midst of the crowd in the grandstands, a huge chestnut colt named Vino Rosso surged into contention on the outside.
To win a horse race, the selected horse must run the prescribed course in a specified time, jumping any hurdles that are present, and crossing the finish line ahead of all other competitors. The winning horse receives a share of the pari-mutuel handle, which is the total amount wagered in the pari-mutuels on the race. The other placings are awarded a fraction of the winning stake, depending on how many runners there are in the race. If no horse wins, a dead-heat is declared. A horse’s weight is a crucial factor in its odds of winning.