A horse race is a contest of speed or stamina between two horses. It has developed from a primitive contest between a single horse and another to a spectacle that involves large fields of runners, sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment, and immense sums of money. Its basic concept, however, remains the same: whichever horse finishes first is the winner.
A race is governed by rules established by a governing body, which oversees the care of the horses and determines how much money will be awarded to the winners of each event. Its rules often include a minimum age for horses, weight limits, and requirements for the trainers and jockeys. The sport has a long and distinguished history and has been practiced in civilizations around the world for over 3,000 years. Archeological records indicate that chariot races were held as early as the 9th or 8th century bc in Asia Minor, and the Olympic Games included both chariot and bareback (mounted) horse racing from the 7th century bc onwards.
The word “horse” is derived from the Latin horum, which means “wild animal.” Horses are large and powerful animals that are capable of achieving speeds up to 55 miles per hour or more during a sprint. They have a high metabolic rate, so they burn a lot of energy during races. They are also very agile, and their ears can rotate 180 degrees, giving them a full 360-degree range of hearing.
Horse races can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. In shorter races, the winner is usually determined by a photo finish. In longer races, a horse must finish ahead of the other runners in order to win.
Before a race begins, the horses are weighed in and checked to make sure they are carrying the proper amount of weight. Then, a group of stewards and patrol judges, assisted by a patrol camera, watch the race from various vantage points for rule violations. Saliva and urine samples are taken from the horses to check for the use of prohibited drugs.
At the starting gate, the stewards asked Mongolian Groom’s rider, Abel Cedillo, to open the gate. Then the eleven horses stepped out of their box. They broke cleanly, and War of Will took the lead in the clubhouse turn, followed by McKinzie.
Bettors like to look at a horse’s coat in the walking ring before a race to see how bright it is. A bright, rippling coat indicates that the horse is ready to run. On the other hand, a dull coat might suggest that it is feeling frightened or angry.
The term horse race has been used in a political sense since the 19th century, though the meaning of the phrase has shifted significantly. In the past, it was generally understood to refer to a close competition between two people or groups. Today, it is more often used in reference to a contest between a politician and an opponent.