A horse race is a sporting event in which horses, under jockeys’ command, are ridden and pushed to run as fast as they can over a long course, usually at a track. The goal is to reach the finish line before any other competing horses and riders. The races are governed by a variety of rules, including those that regulate the size and length of the tracks. In addition, different national horse racing organizations may have slightly different rules.

In order to win a race, a horse must navigate a course with any required hurdles or fences, and reach the finish line before any of the other participating horses. This is usually accomplished by means of a whip, which can be used to encourage the horse or to punish it for running too slow.

The sport of horse racing has a long and rich history, with the first recorded accounts of races occurring in 700 to 40 B.C. Originally, races were held to determine the best warhorses. Later, bettors gathered at the grandstands to watch a spectacle of beauty and speed.

But behind the romanticized facade of horse racing lies a dark side of injuries, drug abuse, and gruesome breakdowns. The sport demands that horses run at such high speeds that they are prone to severe injuries, particularly hemorrhage from the lungs. They are often forced to compete when their trainers’ medical advice would have them rested for weeks or months. They are also fed cocktails of illegal and legal drugs intended to mask injury and enhance performance.

Despite the risks, many people love to bet on horse races, and it is possible to make money from horse racing by following the right strategies. However, the sport has faced growing competition from other gambling activities and declining popularity, as well as scandals relating to safety and doping. In the United States, for example, IBISWorld reports that the number of horse race customers has been steadily decreasing, and that new would-be fans are being turned off by the industry’s image problems.

While the vast majority of bettors place their wagers with bookmakers, a small number of individuals place bets directly with owners or trainers. This is known as a “stakes” bet, and the amount of money placed on such a bet is generally considerably higher than for other types of races.

A staking plan is the way in which a racer or syndicate of owners manages his or her funds, and it is based on a certain percentage of total wagers placed by all participants. The racer or syndicate must then pay out a proportion of this amount to the winners of each race. Traditionally, the percentages of stakes paid out to winning bettors have ranged from around 10% to 30%. However, with the increase in television coverage of horse races, this percentage has increased significantly in recent years. This trend is likely to continue. The staking system has also been used to promote the sport by awarding large amounts of prize money to the winners of specific races, such as the Triple Crown.