Horse races are grueling tests of speed and stamina for both horses and their human partners, known as jockeys. While the sport has grown from a primitive contest of speed and endurance to an enormous spectacle involving vast fields of runners, sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment, and immense sums of money, its essential feature remains: the winner is the horse that crosses the finish line first.

Historically, the sport has been dangerous for both horses and jockeys. Racing at high speeds exposes the animals to a variety of injuries, including fractured leg bones and cracked hooves. Injuries are often not detected until it is too late, and horses are routinely raced before they have fully matured, putting them at risk of developmental disorders. Furthermore, many of today’s racehorses are on performance-enhancing drugs, exposing them to additional risk of injury.

As the sport grew into a huge public-entertainment business, technological advances have helped to make it safer for all involved. New thermal imaging cameras can detect overheating post-race, MRI scanners and X-rays can identify and treat numerous health conditions in the field, and 3D printing technology can produce casts, splints and prosthetics for injured horses. However, the industry still needs to focus on addressing the fundamental causes of its escalating levels of drug misuse and injuring the horses before they even step onto the track.

In the United States, horse racing is primarily run on flat courses, with distances ranging from 440 yards (400 m) to four miles (6 km). Individual flat races are usually shorter than this, with distances of five to twelve furlongs (1.0 to 2.4 km) most common. Short races are generally seen as a test of speed, while longer distances are viewed as tests of stamina.

Stakes races are the highest class of Thoroughbred horse races. They offer the largest purses and are usually held at major tracks like Belmont Park, Saratoga Race Course and Churchill Downs. A horse must qualify to participate in a stakes race by finishing among the top three or four in a graded race.

Horses have been an important part of human culture for thousands of years. They have pulled buggies and carriages, worked as warhorses and raced as a way to show off their prowess. In addition, people love to watch them compete and bet on the outcome of a race.