A horse race is a competition in which horses compete to win a prize. The sport has a long history and is practiced in many cultures around the world. It has also been a part of mythology and legend. The earliest records of horse races date back to 1500 BCE in Asia Minor and the chariot racing described in Homer’s Iliad is dated to the 9th or 8th century BCE.
Modern horse races are governed by the various national racing bodies, which regulate betting and set the rules for race conditions. Many horse races are open events, but others have strict eligibility requirements based on age, sex and past performance. In addition, a race may have weight restrictions for different levels of runners.
The most popular form of horse race wagering is a Win, Place and Show bet. If a runner wins, the player collects all three prices. If a runner comes in second, the player collects the Place price and if it comes in third the player collects the Show price. The Betfair betting system uses a rating system that ranks each runner according to its chance of winning. This allows players to construct bets with greater efficiency and maximize their potential returns.
Horse racing has become a multi-billion dollar industry, but the reality is that a large number of horses are injured during races and die every day. The stress of the sport places unimaginable strain on the developing skeletal systems of young horses. They are forced to begin training and competing at a time when their bones and ligaments would otherwise be repaired, and they are often put to work on hard-packed tracks at speeds far above what they were designed to endure. Many horses are also medicated with performance-enhancing drugs that can be dangerous for both horses and riders.
In addition to these health concerns, the sex discrimination against female horses is a huge problem in the industry. Females are often not treated fairly by trainers and jockeys and are largely ignored by the public. This is despite the fact that women are far more likely to be in the top positions in the industry and some of its most successful owners.
When journalists cover elections by focusing primarily on who is ahead and who is behind, instead of addressing policy issues – what’s known as horse race coverage – voters, candidates and the news industry suffer, a growing body of research suggests. This collection of articles brings together the latest research into this issue. The studies have been reviewed for accuracy and fairness by independent scholars. It is also important to note that the findings from these reports should be viewed with caution, as the methodologies and interpretations used in each study can vary considerably. The collection is intended to be a reference tool for journalists, researchers and policymakers. It will be updated periodically as new research is available.