A horse race is a spectacle of speed, grace and skill that has entranced spectators for centuries. From bareback riders pulling chariots to equestrian events at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, horse racing has shaped culture, religion and mythology around the world. Today, the sport is still a thrilling and popular spectator event.

A wager on a particular horse or group of horses to win a specific race or series of races. A player who makes this bet collects the Win, Place and Show prices if they correctly pick all of the winning runners. Oftentimes the runner that wins will also be considered an overlay or underlay depending on their odds of winning as determined by the player.

The earliest accounts of horse races date back to Ancient Greece where the competition between chariot drivers and their mounts is documented. Archeological records indicate that horse racing was a common activity in many ancient civilizations, including Egypt, Babylon, Syria and Arabia. It is even a part of Norse mythology, where Odin’s steed Hrungnir battles the giant Hrunting.

Modern horse racing is a multi-billion dollar industry. The sport is regulated by the state and federal government. In addition to the large amount of money wagered by bettors, a significant portion of the profits are injected into the race track’s purse. This is a way to ensure that the track can continue to offer top quality entertainment.

Before a race, trainers and owners will prepare their horses according to the condition book, which lays out the schedule for the horses to compete over a given period of time. The condition book is based on the performance of the horses over the last several weeks or months and includes the number of races they have run in each event.

During a horse race, the horses are often doped with cocktails of legal and illegal drugs to mask injuries and improve their performance. A frequent side effect of this doping is bleeding from the lungs, which is known as exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. To counteract this, the horses are often given a drug called Lasix.

During the course of a horse race, the jockey (also known as a rider) uses a whip to urge his or her mount forward. Some jockeys use only a whip while others will add a spur or metal rod to the end of the whip to increase its intensity. A jockey may also choose to “hand ride” a horse, which means they will hold on to the neck of the runner rather than whipping it. This allows the jockey to maintain a better connection with the horse, but it also requires more physical effort on their part. The most skilled and successful jockeys can make this technique look almost effortless. This is a result of extensive training and practice. The rider must know when to apply pressure and when to let the horse run free. The jockey will also monitor the horses heart rate and blood sugar levels to keep track of their health.