A horse race is a contest of speed between horses that are either ridden by jockeys or pulled by sulkies driven by drivers. The sport of horse racing has a long and distinguished history dating back to ancient times, with archeological records showing that it took place in Greece, Rome, Babylon, Syria and Egypt, among other places. Horses also feature prominently in mythology, as the steeds of gods and heroes such as Odin and Thor.
Despite the pageantry and mint juleps of events such as the Kentucky Derby, horse races are not generally considered to be particularly humane or even pleasant for horses. The sport is characterized by sprinting, where horses are forced to run at high speeds and often sustain injuries, including grotesque breakdowns and hemorrhage from their lungs. Moreover, horse races are often ridden with whips that are illegal in many jurisdictions and equine drugs that can be harmful or fatal to the horses.
The modern era of horse racing has seen many improvements in veterinary care, with the development of technologies such as thermal imaging cameras and MRI scanners that allow for the rapid identification of horses that are suffering from heat stroke and other ailments. The emergence of 3D printing has also enabled the construction of casts, splints and prosthetics for injured or ailing horses.
While the industry has made some improvements, there is still much work to be done in order to ensure that horses are treated with the utmost care and respect on and off the track. In particular, there needs to be an ideological reckoning at the macro business level and within the industry as a whole so that a true commitment to the welfare of horses is enshrined in all decisions made throughout the entire lifecycle of a horse from breeding through to retirement.
Generally speaking, flat horse races are divided into two categories; short races (also known as sprints), and long-distance races (often called routes or staying races in Europe). Races of up to four miles (6 km) are common in the UK, while those longer than five furlongs (12 yards) are relatively rare, except in Ireland. Short races are regarded as a test of speed, while long-distance races are seen as a test of stamina.
When a horse crosses the finish line first, it is declared to have won. However, in some cases the finish may be unclear due to a close photo finish or a dead heat, in which case the result is decided by studying a photograph of the finish taken by the stewards to see who crossed the line first. Timeform subscribers can get all the latest results by clicking or tapping a race title. They can also access a wealth of data and analysis by visiting the race cards page, or by becoming a premium subscriber to Timeform Post Racing Analysis. You can also follow the action live on our TV and mobile apps.