Horse races are an event whereby individuals wager on the outcome of competition between two or more horses, typically held on dirt or turf tracks with jockeys and mounts competing against one another. Horse racing dates back to ancient civilizations. Mythological accounts describe it as one of Norse god Odin’s favorite pastimes while it also made its appearance at Greek Olympic Games from 740 bc up until 700 bc where both chariot and mounted horse races were included as regular features; steeplechases also have roots dating back further to at least 5th century bc!
The term horse race has become a ubiquitous metaphor in popular parlance to refer to any form of competition with close margins, including political elections. A recent study concluded that newspapers owned by corporate interests are more likely to use the term “horse race” when covering such contests – specifically the 2004-2008 governor and U.S. Senate elections where horse race coverage was most frequent during close races as well as weeks leading up to Election Day.
Early horse races were competitive contests between two or at most three horses. As public demand rose, open events soon emerged with standardised rules developed for eligibility based on age, sex, and other considerations. Races originally consisted of 4-mile (6.4-kilometer) heats where two wins were needed to declare the victor; sprint racing became popular mid-18th century which reduced this number significantly to two or more events per event.
For horses to win races, they must carry weights determined by past performances and the equine equivalent of pounds. These calculations are conducted by a racing secretary who reviews each horse’s record to assess its chances of victory – this process of handicapping is integral to both games and races alike.
Even though horse racing is popular, its inherent danger is still undeniable and many racehorses have perished as a result of participating. Although exact figures of fatalities remain unknown, their numbers likely number into the thousands. Horse racing could greatly improve its image by adopting zero-tolerance drug policies and running races exclusively on grass tracks only, prohibiting whipping altogether, and permitting competition after horses turn three birthdays; without such reforms it would be difficult to know whether this sport ever truly meets any criteria of humaneness or not.