A horse race is a contest of speed and stamina between horses, either ridden by jockeys or pulled by sulkies. The first horse to cross the finish line wins the race. There are several types of horse races, ranging from a simple dash to a multi-day endurance event. A typical horse race lasts a mile or more, with the distance determined by the type of race and the age of the horse. Some horse races are held on a track covered in grass, while others are held on dirt or other hard surfaces.

The sport of horse racing has evolved over the centuries from a primitive test of speed or stamina between two horses to an elaborate spectacle with enormous fields of runners and sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment, but its basic concept remains unchanged. It is a public entertainment industry that generates immense sums of money.

One of the most famous horse races in the world is held each July 2 and August 16 in Siena, Italy, called Il Palio. It is a horse race between seventeen Contrade, or city wards, with a magnificent pageant that precedes the running of the horses.

The history of horse racing stretches back to the domestication of horses by nomadic tribesmen. It began as a sport among the nobility, who privatey wagered on the outcome of races between horses of different breeds. The sport became more professional in the 12th Century, when English knights returned home from the Crusades, bringing with them Arab horses. These were cross-bred with English mares to create a new breed of horse that combined speed and endurance. This was the beginning of Thoroughbred racing.

Today, horse racing is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States and abroad. It is a sport that relies on large audiences, massive wagering, and an extensive network of trainers and stables to operate. It is also a dangerous sport, with countless horses dying from injuries related to the exorbitant physical stress of the sport, including broken limbs and catastrophic cardiac episodes.

As a result, the sport is facing increasing scrutiny by animal welfare groups and the general public. Despite the efforts of many in the industry to improve safety and care, horses still suffer and die at a rate far higher than would occur in a similar sport such as soccer.

In addition, the reliance on gambling and the use of illegal drugs has led to a culture of corruption that is undermining the integrity of the sport. These problems are exacerbated by the fact that horse racing is one of the few sports where the public can place bets without being licensed. In this environment, it is easy for horse race coverage to distract from news and policy issues that matter to voters. Studies suggest that when the media covers elections primarily in terms of who is winning and losing, as opposed to policy issues, voters, candidates, and the news industry itself suffer.