A horse race is a form of organized racing, which originated in North America in the early seventeenth century. The British occupied New Amsterdam in 1664, and organized racing there. In the years following, standardized races were held. After the Civil War, speed became the primary goal. During this period, racetrack managements devised pari-mutuel, a betting pool where bettors share funds with the management.
Horse racing has taken many forms over the centuries, and has even evolved as the sport has developed. Most national horse racing organisations have similar rules, but some differ. Some countries, such as Brazil and South Africa, have established Triple Crowns of elite races.
Among the world’s elite races are the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in the U.S., the Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini in Argentina, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in England, the Gran Premio Sao Paulo Internacional in Brazil, and the Wellington Cup in New Zealand.
Since the early nineteenth century, the horse race has been a favored metaphor for political campaigns. The Boston Journal, for example, used the image in election coverage as early as 1888. Despite being criticized for doing so, the horse race image has survived.
Originally, the only way to win a horse race was by placing a wager on the horse. If the horse won the race, then the bet was paid. But if the bet failed, the money was forfeited. Eventually, the betting pool was expanded to bookmaking. Today, the majority of rulebooks are based on the British Horseracing Authority rulebook.
There are also exceptions to the age limits. During the twentieth century, for instance, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Australian Golden Slipper were open to horses older than three years. This resulted in less of an emphasis on age.
At the time of the founding of the American Thoroughbred, the hallmark of excellence was stamina. For this reason, horses could reach peak ability around five years of age. These days, the average age of a thoroughbred is around twelve hundred pounds.
Until the 1860s, heat racing for four-year-olds was common. But when that era ended, the races became standardized and the distances were reduced to two miles. Heats were also smaller. When the classic age was reduced to three, the number of races with horses over four years dwindled.
A major difference between modern day and past races is the fact that the first horse to cross the finish line is declared the winner. Often, the prize money is divided between first, second and third place. Traditionally, this was done using a “play or pay” rule, but it is now more often accomplished through a photo finish.
Another difference between modern and past horse races is that the best jockeys are now put on the most promising horses. This may sound like a good idea, but the correlation of jockey to horse has decreased their value. Those who support the sport say that the athletes spend most of their lives in stalls and suffer whips and drug abuse, which have a negative impact on their overall performance.
