A horse race is a contest of speed among horses that either are ridden by jockeys or pull sulkies and their drivers. It is an ancient sport that developed sometime before 1000 B.C.E. It was practiced by Greeks, the Babylonians, and the Egyptians and was even a part of Norse mythology. It became a sport of formal competition around 664 B.C.E. The sport is popular in many countries worldwide and attracts a large number of bettors. There are different types of bets available to fans such as win, place, and show, and accumulator bets. Betting on horse races is a common practice and the sport has gained popularity over time.
Horse racing is a dangerous sport. It is not uncommon for a jockey to fall off during a race, or for a horse to die from injuries sustained while racing. These risks are why it is so important to follow the rules of the game and keep safety in mind when betting on a race. The rules of a horse race are set out by the governing body of the sport. They include rules that prohibit betting on a race by children or by people who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In addition, all jockeys and horse owners must submit to a thorough background check before participating in any race.
The horse race scandal involving trainer Steve Asmussen and his top assistant Scott Blasi came like a thunderclap, exposing to the world what animal activists have long claimed: widespread abuse of horses at the highest levels of American thoroughbred racing. The fact that the industry has allowed this to go on for so long is infuriating to most who love the sport. Yet it is equally disgraceful that the racing establishment has been so unwilling to address this problem, even as it has become more and more difficult to justify the high cost of racing.
While it is true that most trainers, assistant trainers, jockeys, and caretakers genuinely love their horses and would never intentionally harm them, the fact remains that there are too many abused horses. It is time to admit that and take steps to change the situation.
In politics, the phrase dark horse has come to mean any unexpected contender who may surprise people and win an election or a horse race. It has also been used in sports to describe an athlete who is not expected to perform well but turns out to be better than everyone thought he or she could be.
In the world of horse racing, dark horses are often defined by pedigree. To be eligible to race, a horse must have both its sire and dam be purebred members of the same breed. In addition, horses must have certain characteristics such as age, sex, birthplace, and previous performance to be eligible for a specific race. Consequently, some races are only open to horses with a particular pedigree while others are restricted by age or other factors.