Horse racing is one of the oldest and most beloved spectator sports. Historically speaking, it can be traced back to ancient civilizations worldwide, serving as an integral component in myth and legend such as Odin’s battle with Hrungnir in Norse mythology.
Horse races take many forms, from small local events to the biggest and most prestigious worldwide competitions. Some of the most renowned races include Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Melbourne Cup and Epsom Derby; held on various horse race tracks that may or may not include dirt or synthetic surfaces that impact speed of running horses.
At first, organized horse racing consisted of matches between two or three horses owned by different owners who provided a purse; anyone opting to withdraw forfeited half (and later all) prize money won. Bettors placed wagers on each match’s outcome; agreements were recorded by disinterested third-party keepers of the match book.
By the 18th century, public racing had outshone match races and new rules were necessary to ensure fair competition. These included restricting the number of runners; outlining eligibility rules such as age, sex, birthplace and previous performance) for candidates; as well as regulations concerning jockeys and their mounts; racing was further divided based on distance with short races known as sprints while longer ones called routes or stayers.
Nowadays, horse races are more tightly regulated than ever before. Most races run under the watchful eye of stewards responsible for upholding the rules of the sport; races may take place on flat surfaces or jumps; supplements and drugs designed to enhance horse performance are widely used, including painkillers designed for human use that bleed over into racing preparation preparation and blood doping, with trainers who fail drug tests receiving only minimal penalties for breaking their drug testing regulations.
Even with these concerns in mind, people still enjoy horse races immensely. Their spectacle and excitement of close races draw huge crowds to grandstand seating areas; spectators in lower level sections tend to be less vocal but still enthusiastic when the winning horse crosses the finish line. Behind-the-scenes, though, things are far more complicated.