A horse race is a fast-paced event in which horses compete to cross the finish line first. In a race, there is usually an amount of prize money to be split between the first three finishers. Horse races are often run over a variety of terrains including dirt, grass and jumps. Depending on the type of race, there may also be hurdles that must be jumped during the course of the competition.

Many countries have different rules for how a race should be run. However, the vast majority of horse racing rules are similar across countries and based on the original rulebook established by the British Horseracing Authority.

To be eligible for a race, a horse must have been born in the year of the race and meet other eligibility requirements such as age, weight, sex, gender, birthplace and previous performances. In addition, a horse must be ridden by an approved jockey. The race itself consists of a series of sprints over a set distance where the winner is the horse that crosses the finish line first.

At the beginning of a race, horses are lined up in their own individual starting gates, and at the given signal, the gates open, allowing the horses to enter the track and begin running at top speed. Throughout the duration of a race, the horses must try to conserve their energy for the end of the race known as the home stretch. At the conclusion of a race, horses will usually veer to one side or the other in an attempt to cross the finish line. Unless the horses have a photo finish, the stewards will determine the winner by studying a photograph of the race and declaring that the horse that crossed the line first is the winner.

Horses are forced to run at speeds so high that they often break down, and their lungs hemorrhage, a condition called exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. To keep them healthy and competitive, horses are given cocktails of legal and illegal drugs designed to mask injuries and enhance performance.

A video aired this week by animal rights organization PETA depicted gruesome scenes of trainer Steve Asmussen and his staff mistreating world-class thoroughbreds. The footage is stunning, and the images will likely reverberate beyond horse racing—but in a way that may not be good for the sport or its fans.

Despite the affluence of the sport and the large following it enjoys, horse racing has never evolved to put the best interests of the horses at its center. A complete overhaul of the business model would require a profound ideological reckoning, from the breeding shed to aftercare and into the minds of racehorses themselves. But until this happens, the equine welfare crisis will continue. And for countless horses, like Eight Belles, that will mean a tragic end. For more, read the full article.