Horse races have entranced spectators for centuries. From the earliest days of Greek Olympic Games, where jockeys rode bareback and hitched their horses to chariots, the thrill of the race has captivated audiences from around the world. Today, a day at the racetrack can be as much fun as it is thrilling. The modern racetrack is more than a place to watch a horse race; it is also a cultural landmark and entertainment venue that offers visitors a full spectrum of dining and betting options.
A horse race is a wager on the winner of a particular race. Players can bet money on a single runner or a combination of runners in a multiple bet known as an Across the Board bet. The winnings from a bet on the winner are paid to the player after a deduction of a percentage by the track. The Across the Board bet is one of the most popular forms of horse racing betting.
To determine a horse’s chances of winning a race, handicappers compare its past performance to the other horses in the race. They also consider the prevailing weather conditions, and the track’s surface. A handicapper’s assessment of a horse’s chance to win is based on its speed, experience, and health. A fast horse with good endurance and a history of success is a better choice than a slow, inexperienced runner with poor stamina.
Before the 1700s, horse racing was usually a quarter-mile sprint between two horses whose owners believed that their steed was faster than the other’s. These bawdy affairs, known as path races, took place in front of taverns and on city squares and at country fairs. The sport quickly evolved into a longer contest over four miles between groups of horses competing for money and trophies.
When a horse is entered in a race, it must be assigned a class level that indicates its ability to compete with the other horses in the race. A low class level allows a horse to gain confidence and experience while a high level requires that it be able to win. Horses that are not able to meet the requirements of the higher classes are “claimed” by other horse owners who buy them for their own use or sell them for betting purposes.
The exploitation of horses in the horse racing industry has drawn ire from animal rights advocates. The sport requires the horses to be pushed to their limits, often exceeding speeds of 30 miles per hour, while carrying people on their backs. During these exertions, the horses’ heartbeats increase tenfold to an excessive 250 beats per minute. This can lead to exhaustion and even death, as horses are not accustomed to such intense activity. The horses are then injected with cocktails of legal and illegal drugs that mask injuries and artificially enhance performance. Some of the drugs can be very dangerous for the horses, including Lasix and Salix, which are diuretics with performance-enhancing qualities.