Horse racing

Several terms redirect here. For other uses, see Horserace (drinking game) and Racehorse (disambiguation).

Horse racing
Horse racing at Golden Gate Fields, 2017
Highest governing bodyGenerally regulated by assorted national or regional governing bodies, International Federation of Horseracing Authorities
Characteristics
ContactYes
Mixed-sexYes
TypeOutdoor
EquipmentHorse, appropriate horse tack
VenueTurf, dirt or synthetic surface race track suitable for horses
Presence
Country or regionWorldwide
Steeplechase racing at Deauville
Harness racing in Adelaide
Wild Horse racing in Palio di Legnano 2013

Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic premise – to identify which of two or more horses is the fastest over a set course or distance – has been mostly unchanged since at least classical antiquity.[1]

Due to animal cruelty, companies and individuals are boycotting horse racing and it has been steadily declining in popularity worldwide. [2][3]

Horse races vary widely in format, and many countries have developed their own particular traditions around the sport. Variations include restricting races to particular breeds, running over obstacles, running over different distances, running on different track surfaces, and running in different gaits. In some races, horses are assigned different weights to carry to reflect differences in ability, a process known as handicapping.[4]

While horses are sometimes raced purely for sport, a major part of horse racing's interest and economic importance is in the gambling associated with it,[5] an activity that in 2019 generated a worldwide market worth around US$115 billion.[6]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference EB was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "The Slow Decline of Our Cruelest Sport". The Humane League.
  3. ^ "Horse racing's disregard for animal life is appalling". The Guardian.
  4. ^ "Horse Racing Terms". Official Horse Picks. 10 April 2020. Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference GamblingImpactStudy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Annual Report 2019" (PDF). International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.