Horse racing is the sport in which horses compete against each other for a purse prize. The earliest races were match races between two or at most three horses, with the owners providing the money for the purse and bettors making a simple wager on whether the horse would win or lose. The agreements between owners and bettors were recorded by disinterested third parties, who came to be known as the keepers of the match book. The first such publication was An Historical List of All the Matches Run (1729). In North America, the match book was consolidated into the record-keeping system that is the basis for today’s horse race betting.

Betting on horse races is a popular pastime. While many bettors make single bets on individual horses, a growing number of horse racing enthusiasts use accumulator bets, which allow them to place multiple bets at once. These bets are designed to predict the order of finish for a race, including the winner, second place and third place. In addition, bettors can place bets on a race’s total distance or its overall speed.

The popularity of horse racing has prompted many critics to argue that it is inhumane and corrupt. However, others believe that the sport has a rich heritage and is a vital part of the culture of North American society.

A horse race is a type of track event in which horses, typically thoroughbreds, are driven at high speeds around a circular course. The horses must complete a set of turns and jump any obstacles, such as fences and ditches, to complete the course. The race is usually divided into a number of segments, called furlongs. In the United States, a furlong is equivalent to 1.083 miles (2.13 km). Individual flat races can be short sprints or long distance races, referred to as routes in the United States and staying races in Europe. Generally, short races require fast acceleration, while long distance races require stamina.

While improved medical treatment has made the care of racehorses much better than in the past, they are still pushed to their limits. They are often given cocktails of legal and illegal drugs intended to mask injuries and enhance performance. Many of these horses will bleed from the lungs, a condition known as exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage.

A horse race is an exciting and dangerous sport, requiring the skill and dedication of trainers, handlers, veterinarians, and jockeys. It can also be a lucrative business for the owners, who can invest millions of dollars to breed and train their horses. In addition to the profits from betting, there are also ancillary income streams such as stud fees and sponsorships. A race is not only a financial venture, but also an emotional journey for both the horses and their fans. In addition to a thrill of victory, the cheers and curses that rise with the runner’s stretch call have a rhythm and ring of universal imprecations.