A horse race is a sport that involves a group of horses and jockeys competing to finish the race first. It is one of the most popular sports in the world with a large following and many betting options. People can bet on different outcomes of the race such as who will win, place, or show. There are also accumulator bets available where multiple bets can be placed at once.

Horse races have been around for centuries, but they were not until the 18th century that modern horse racing began. It began in England and was named the St. Leger in 1776. This was followed by the Oaks in 1779 and the Derby in 1780.

While the main players in a horse race are the horses and jockeys, there are a number of other significant people involved in the sport as well. These include the horse owners and trainers. Owners are the ones who purchase a horse and then take care of it to make sure it is in the best shape possible for the race. They hire trainers to work with the horses and provide them with all the equipment they need for the race. Trainers are the closest thing to coaches in horse racing and they often have a huge impact on a horse’s performance.

There are also race officials who keep track of the rules and make sure that everything goes according to plan during a race. These are known as Stewards and while they may not be seen during a race, they will investigate any possible infractions after the fact.

In addition to the people in these positions, there are also a number of people who support the horses and help make sure that they are ready for a race. This is known as the crowd. They are often very excited to see their favorite horse come in first place and they will cheer them on to the finish line. This can be a very exciting event and can even bring tears to the eyes of some fans.

There have been some concerns about the treatment of horses in horse races. However, recent improvements have been made to prevent animal cruelty in the industry. PETA has been an important voice for animal welfare issues in racing including abusive training practices for young horses, the administration of drugs, and transporting them to slaughter.

Despite these concerns, there are still many people who enjoy the sport and are willing to wager money on it. The majority of bettors place bets on the winning horse, and there are a variety of ways to do this. These include placing a bet on a specific race or placing an antepost bet, which is a bet that is placed before the day of the race and usually has higher odds.