Horse racing is a sport that is loved and enjoyed by people all over the world. Behind the romanticized facade, however, lies a world of injuries, drug abuse, gruesome breakdowns, and slaughter.
Would-be racehorses are torn from their mothers and herds as babies, then “broken” (a cruel industry term for making them pliant). They’re then whipped, trained, and raced too young.
Origins
Horse racing is an ancient sport that dates back to the Greeks and Romans. Its modern form has developed over the centuries and evolved with new technological advancements and changes to racing regulations. Today, it is a global sport with millions of fans and a multi-billion dollar industry.
The sport began as an informal competition between horses connected to two-wheeled carts or chariots. Then, people started riding on top of the horses as well, and the sport became formalized with a racetrack. This led to specialized breeds of horses that excelled in different disciplines.
Professional riders called jockeys started racing horses to showcase their speed and endurance to potential buyers. These early races took place over short distances of a quarter, half, or mile. The winner received a prize, usually money or a trophy. The first official American race was held in 1665, when a colonial governor plotted a course on a Long Island plain.
Rules
A variety of rules govern horse racing. For example, horse races must be held on a licensed racetrack and must meet certain safety regulations. Smoking is prohibited in the stables, and jockeys are required to wear helmets when riding. In addition, horses must be properly trained and supervised. The trainers and owners must also report veterinary and training records to the racetrack.
Horses are entered in different levels of competition, or classes, depending on their experience and performance. Some of these are maiden races, claiming races, allowance races, and stakes races. The higher the class of the race, the more money is in the prize purse.
While some critics argue that horse racing is inhumane and has been corrupted by doping and overbreeding, others believe that the sport is a thrilling and engaging spectacle for millions of viewers each year. Nevertheless, the sport faces significant scrutiny in recent years, following horse breakdowns at Santa Anita Park in 2019 and the 2020 indictment of 27 people, including top trainer Bob Baffert, on drug charges.
Prizes
The prize money offered in horse racing can vary from race to race. It is usually based on the caliber of the race and can sometimes be funded by private sources such as sponsors. The bigger the prize fund, the more desirable it becomes for elite horses to participate, which in turn attracts more spectators.
The prize money is distributed to the top finishers and to those who make win, place or show bets. These are the most simplistic bets in horse racing and are the easiest to understand. For example, a $2 show bet will payout if your selected horse finishes in first or second place. The winner’s odds can be found on the field board and can help you calculate your potential payout before placing a bet. This is different from other bets, which only reveal their payout after the race has concluded. This is one of the reasons why horse racing has become such a popular sport to play and watch.
Odds
Horse racing odds are a mathematical depiction of each horse’s chance of winning a race. They are displayed on the tote board at the track or on your favorite online sportsbook and change all the way up until the race starts.
Odds are calculated using the pari-mutuel system of betting, which means you’re betting against everyone else in a pool of money that gets shared among all bettors. The business accepting the bets keeps a small percentage of the total pool, known as the vig or rake, but the remaining money is paid out to bettors who win.
The main wager types in horse racing are Win, Place and Show. These are divided into different pools and each one affects the odds on individual horses. The Win bet wins if your horse finishes first, while the Place bet pays out if it finishes second or third. The Show bet works a little differently as the payout is reduced, but the odds are still dependent on the amount of money wagered on the horse.