A horse race is a competition for horses in which participants wager on the outcome. The goal is to have the winning horse cross a finish line first, in order to win a prize. There are different types of horse races, including flat races, hurdles and steeple chases, and each requires a particular set of rules to be followed. The sport of horse racing has been around since ancient times, and it has been featured in many different cultures throughout history.

The horses competing in a horse race are called thoroughbreds. There are also other breeds that can be used for racing, but most horse races are held with thoroughbreds due to their speed and agility. The horses are trained by jockeys, who use a whip to encourage them to go faster. In order to prevent injury to the horses, there are rules in place limiting how often jockeys can use the whip.

Before a race begins, the horses are placed in stalls or behind a starting gate. Then the race starts when the gates open and the horses begin running down the track. Some races are handicapped, in which the weights that the competing horses must carry are adjusted on the basis of age and previous performance. For example, a two-year old, the youngest horses, will have to carry more weight than an older horse, and fillies are given a small advantage over males in some races.

During the race, riders help guide their horses along the race course and over any obstacles that may be in their way. There are a number of different ways to get the horses across each obstacle, but the most common is to jump over them. There are also a variety of different courses that can be run for horse races, depending on the type of race and what sort of terrain is available.

After a race, the winning horse is declared by the stewards. If there is a tie, then the decision is made according to dead heat rules. It is not uncommon for there to be multiple dead heats in a horse race, which can be very frustrating for fans and punters.

There are a lot of crooks in the horse racing industry, and they do their best to cover up their crimes. But the public is growing more aware of these issues, and this is helping put pressure on the crooks to clean up their act. This is great news for animal lovers, but bad for the business of horse racing.

The Kentucky Derby is one of the most popular races in American horse racing, and it is known for its pageantry and mint juleps. Historically, it was a race for three-year-old colts and fillies, but it has become increasingly expensive to maintain thoroughbreds to that age, and the Derby is now open to horses of all ages. As a result, the popularity of the Derby is decreasing, but it has not yet declined to an unsafe level.