A horse race is a competition in which horses are ridden by jockeys and run around an oval track, usually at high speeds. Horse races are held at a number of different locations, including thoroughbred breed farms, race tracks, and even on television. During the race, horses are forced to sprint—often while being hit with whips and subjected to electric shock devices—at incredibly fast speeds that can cause serious injuries. The racing industry is notorious for ignoring the welfare of horses and frequently subjects them to drug abuse, injuries, and slaughter.

A thoroughbred is a type of racehorse that has been genetically engineered to be a superior athlete. The breed has been in existence for hundreds of years, and its development was accelerated in the 17th century when thoroughbred breeders began crossing them with other purebreds from Europe and Asia. The most common thoroughbreds are the American and Irish horse breeds. The sport of horse racing has many facets, including betting, training, and breeding. The most important aspect is the horse, however, since a race is only as successful as its top competitors. The best racehorses are bred and trained to have excellent endurance, speed, and agility, making them the fastest and most agile competitors in a race. The most famous races are the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, the Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup in Australia, the Dubai World Cup and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in England, and the Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini in Argentina.

During a race, horses are ridden by jockeys (also known as jockeys) who use whips to encourage the animals to go faster. Although these tools can cause pain and injury to the animal, they are necessary for the safety of both the rider and the horse. There are a number of rules and regulations that govern the use of whips, and riders must be licensed to compete in a race.

In a horse race, bettors wager money on the horses they think will finish first, second, or third. The most popular types of bets are win, place, and show. Win bets require the horse to come in first, place bets require the horse to finish either first or second, and show bets allow the bettor to bet on any of the three possible results (first, second, or third). A horse can also be shut off, meaning that it cannot improve its position. The most profitable bets are those placed on horses that finish in the money.