What is a Horse Race?

A horse race is a competition in which horses run on a designated course. The first three finishers are awarded a specific amount of prize money. The term can also be used to refer to a contest of any sort, whether it is an election, a sports game or a political debate.

The culture of horse racing is steeped in centuries of tradition, elegance and spectacle. From the ancient chariot races to the modern day Kentucky Derby and Royal Ascot, horse racing is a celebration of the human spirit and the bond between man and beast. It is also a highly lucrative enterprise, with billions of dollars circulating through the industry every year.

But for many, it’s the treatment of the animals that is most disturbing. Several veterinarians I spoke to say that trainers routinely over-medicate and over-train their horses, causing them to break down physically and mentally. Injured horses are often euthanized or sent to slaughterhouses, where they’re turned into dog food and glue.

For the sport’s proponents, it’s a necessary trade-off: The money generated by the horse race fuels a multibillion dollar equine economy that includes breeders, trainers and farmers who grow carrots and hay. It also supports thousands of jobs in cities like Louisville and rural America, and it keeps another vice, gambling, alive.

Yet despite all that money, horse racing is at a crossroads, multiple insiders tell me. A few more bad headlines about the sport’s incessant use of drugs and breeding practices that promote speed over durability could kill the public’s willingness to subsidize it. And once that happens, the sport could be headed for extinction.

Grade: A rating system based on past performance that assigns a number to a race, with higher numbers denoting better quality and prestige. Grade 1 is the highest of these ratings; a race can be downgraded to a lower rank if it fails to meet certain criteria.

spit box: A barn or trailer where horses are brought for post-race testing of urine, saliva and blood. Usually located on the backside of the track. spiral fracture: Fracture that spirals around the bone.