What is a Horse Race?

A horse race is a sporting event in which riders compete on horses to see who can finish first, second or third. It is a popular sport and has a long history dating back to ancient times. The ancient Greeks participated in races using four-hitched chariots and mounted bareback, and the sport spread to the Romans and other civilizations. It is now an international sport with many rules and regulations governing its conduct. The horse race is a favorite pastime of millions of people around the world.

A jockey rides a horse and directs its actions by means of the reins, which are held in the hand of the rider. The jockey also holds the saddle cloth, on which is written the number denoting post position. A trainer trains a horse and prepares it to participate in a race. A horse’s name is usually a combination of its breed and the year it was born, such as Secretariat or Seabiscuit. Colors are the silks, which are the jacket and cap worn by a jockey. They may be generic and provided by the track or specific to one owner. A colt is a male horse under five years of age, and a filly is a female.

The course of a race is designed to test the horse’s ability to run long distances over obstacles and over various track surfaces. The track is generally dirt or grass, and can be muddy, sloppy, soft or heavy. The race may be contested over hurdles or fences, such as those in steeplechases. In addition to the hurdles, some tracks feature a series of sand traps and banked turns.

WIN BET-A bet on a horse to win the race. If the horse wins, the player collects the winning bets three ways. If the horse finishes second, the bet pays two ways. If the horse finishes third, the bet pays one way. Across the board bets require the player to pick the winner of all the races included in the wager.

DRIFT-A slowing of a horse’s pace that is caused by a variety of reasons, such as injury, fatigue or outside distractions. The horse may also be “bearing in” or “bearing out,” meaning that it is veering to the left or right.

DROPDOWN-A horse losing its lead to another horse that is running a lower class of rival.

EASED-Chart caller’s assessment that a horse is being deliberately slowed by the jockey to prevent it from being injured in tight quarters or churning the track surface.

DOSAGE DIAGRAM-A diagram showing chefs-de-race in a horse’s pedigree, indicating the potential of the horse for speed or stamina. DOSAGE INDEX-A mathematical reduction of a horse’s Dosage Diagram to give a figure reflecting its performance.

HOMEBREED-A Thoroughbred horse bred by its owner.

HANDICAP-A set amount of weight a horse must carry in a race.