A horse race is a contest of speed between horses that either carry jockeys on their backs or pull sulkies driven by drivers. The sport is popular in many countries. It has a long history and continues to be a major spectator event, even as the number of races has decreased. There are several causes of this decline, including decreasing interest in betting and the increasing awareness that the sport is cruel to horses.

The most common type of horse race is a flat race, in which the horses run over a track that has a set distance to cover. These tracks can be asphalt, dirt or grass. The most important feature of a flat race is the straightness of the course, which allows the horses to reach maximum speed. The other main feature is the surface material, which affects traction and the ability of the horses to accelerate through turns. A good surface material will be smooth and consistent, allowing the horses to move more easily over the ground.

In the early days of horse racing, races were simple affairs. Spectators showed up to watch, often wearing fancy outfits, and the winning horse got a small prize. Occasionally, a more valuable prize was awarded for the best jockey or trainer. The first organized horse races in the United States took place after the Civil War, and wagering became an integral part of the sport.

When people think of horse races, they are likely to imagine a gleaming racetrack with a mass of thundering horses racing down the stretch. However, behind the glossy veneer of the Thoroughbred industry is a world of injuries, drug abuse and gruesome breakdowns. Horses used for racing are pushed beyond their limits and frequently suffer from a deadly condition known as exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, in which the blood vessels in the lungs are irritated by the extreme physical stress of running at high speeds.

Horses used for racing are not allowed to express their natural instincts, so they become ridden, trained and confined in ways that can lead to mental or emotional distress. This can manifest as self-mutilation, cribbing, biting and other repetitive, compulsive behavior. Injuries are routine, and one study found that 3 thoroughbreds die each day from catastrophic injuries at racetracks.

Breeding 1,000-pound thoroughbreds with massive torsos and spindly legs is a recipe for breakdowns. Most racehorses are born at 18 months old and then thrust into intensive training, which means they have skeletal systems that aren’t fully matured. They also are forced to sprint–often under the threat of whips and illegal electric shock devices–at such speeds that they can be injured by a single misstep or fall. They are also given cocktails of legal and illegal drugs designed to mask injuries and artificially enhance performance. Despite these dangers, few racehorses are retired to pastures. Instead, they are sent to slaughterhouses in Canada, Mexico and Japan. While donations by racing folks and gamblers are essential for equine welfare, they do not cancel out the continuing exploitation of younger runners who will ultimately be sold into this brutal trade.