A horse race is a sport in which horses compete for a purse by running over a course. The sport has a long history and was popular in ancient Greece, Rome, and Babylon. Today, it is a sport that many people enjoy watching on TV or at the race track.

While the sport of horse racing remains a major economic activity, it has also been criticized for its cruelty. It is a dangerous sport, and horses are subjected to harsh training methods, drug use, injuries, breakdowns, and slaughter. Growing awareness of the dark side of racing has fueled improvements in race day safety, and technology is helping to improve conditions for both the horses and jockeys. Thermal imaging cameras can detect overheating, MRI scanners can diagnose injuries, and 3D printers can make casts and splints for injured horses.

Until the mid-1800s, horse races were often deadly affairs, as evidenced by a number of tragic accidents and deaths. As a result, the industry focused on improving safety for both the horses and spectators. It also introduced new rules to limit the amount of money a jockey could be paid and banned betting on races for several years. Although these changes improved safety, they did not end the problem of horse deaths.

The sport of horse racing traces its roots to Ancient Greece, where men used to pull two-wheeled carts called chariots pulled by horses. Around 1000 B.C.E., horse racing became a formalized sport with men riding on the backs of horses to guide them and steer them.

As the sport developed, horses began to run faster and more consistently, and the pace of the race was sped up. This led to the development of a class system in which horses were assigned weights based on their previous performances, age, and gender. The class system helped to prevent a single horse from becoming so dominant that it was unbeatable.

In the United States, organized horse racing first started in 1664, when Col. Richard Nicolls laid out a 2-mile course on the plains of Long Island and offered a silver cup to the winner. A number of changes were made over the next century, including the introduction of standardized races and the shift from heats to one-on-one competition.

Races are typically scheduled weeks or months in advance. A number of different types of races are available, including handicap races and stakes races. The latter are typically open to all horses, while handicap races are designed for specific types of horses. Stakes races are often more competitive than handicap races, and the best horses will receive large amounts of betting money. Horses that have won a race before may not run in the same race again, and they are only allowed to win a certain number of races each year. Generally, a horse that wins more than three races will be retired. This is to ensure that the best horses continue to compete at top levels.