A horse race is a competition in which horses run around an oval track and are judged on the ability to accelerate through each of a series of turns. The winner of a horse race is awarded a set amount of prize money. In addition to the main winner, each place in the race is awarded a certain amount of prize money.

In horse racing, the jockey is a key element to the success of a horse. The jockey is responsible for guiding the horse through the course of the race and coaxing out the best performance from the animal. In many cases, jockeys will use a whip to keep the horse moving. However, they will also rely on their own skill to guide their mount through each of the turns and hurdles (if present) during the race.

One of the most exciting aspects of a horse race is betting. The winning bettors will receive a share of the total sum wagered on the race, after a deduction of a percentage by the track. This system is known as parimutuels. A bettor may choose to bet on a single horse or on an exotic wager. If a player places a bet on every horse in the race, this is called buying the race.

Aside from betting, the main purpose of a horse race is to entertain the crowds. The races are held in beautiful stadiums and people wear fancy attire. There are food vendors and a variety of drinks, such as mint juleps. However, behind the romanticized facade of Thoroughbred horse races is a world of injuries, drug abuse, and gruesome breakdowns. In addition, a large number of the horses that are not killed by the sport are euthanized. PETA estimates that ten thousand American thoroughbreds are slaughtered each year.

In the United States, horse racing dates back to the early 1700s. The first standardized races were known as King’s Plates and were designed to promote the breeding of Thoroughbreds. These were for six-year-olds and carried 168 pounds in four-mile heats. In 1751, five-year-olds and four-year-olds were admitted to the races, which reduced the weight to 140 pounds per race and lengthened the heats to two miles.