A horse race is a sport in which humans ride horses to compete against one another in a race track. The winning horse is the one that crosses the finish line first. Some people consider this a sport of skill, but others have criticized it as cruel and unjust to animals. The sport has also been accused of being corrupted by doping and overbreeding. The animal rights group called the End Horse Racing Subsidies Coalition has urged states to stop funding the sport.
Before a race begins, competing horses are positioned in stalls or behind a starting gate. Then, a flag or horn signals the start of the race. The horses must run along the track and over any hurdles or fences that are present. Jockeys help guide the horses during the race, which can last for several minutes. At the end of a race, winning bettors are paid out according to their placement.
Betting on horse races has long been a popular activity at races around the world. The most common bets are to win, place, and show. Bettors can also make accumulator bets, which involve placing multiple bets at different times on a single event.
The pedigree of a horse is important in horse racing. To be eligible to race, a horse must have a sire and dam that are purebred of the same breed. This is a requirement for both flat and jump races, except steeplechases. In addition, a horse must be at least four years old to race in the United States. In other countries, the age requirements are based on the type of race and the rules of the racing authority.
In addition to age and pedigree, horses must meet other qualifications to be considered for a race. For example, they must be trained to perform at the desired level of competition. They must have a trainer that is licensed by the racing authority. They must also be in good health. If a horse is not in good health, it cannot race and is typically retired from competition.
There are many types of horse races in the United States and around the world. Some are categorized as stakes, which have higher purses and require more advanced training than other races. Stakes are usually held only on the most prestigious tracks in major cities.
There are also handicap races, in which the weights that a horse must carry are adjusted according to its age, sex, and previous performance. These adjustments are designed to even the playing field between different horses. This system is especially important in horse races where a large number of horses are competing against each other. A two-year-old horse, for example, must carry more weight than a three-year-old. There are also sex allowances, in which horses with the same sex carry lower weights than males.