A horse race is a sporting event that involves competing horses and their jockeys. The horse that crosses the finish line first is declared the winner of the race. The sport has evolved over the centuries from primitive contests of speed or stamina to a worldwide spectacle featuring sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment and immense sums of money. While the technology has changed, the fundamental rules remain unchanged.

Before the race begins, the horses are positioned in stalls or behind starting gates to ensure they do not have an advantage over their competitors. Then, the gates open and the horses begin running down the racetrack, or if there are hurdles on the course, jumping over them. The riders on the horses, called jockeys, help guide them and encourage them to run faster. In some races, the jockeys may use a whip to get their horses to go faster, but there are regulations in place to protect the animals’ safety and well-being.

Until the early 19th century, most races were closed events in which bettors placed private wagers on just one or two horses. As the popularity of horse racing grew, races were opened up to the general public and eligibility rules developed based on age, gender, birthplace, and previous performance. In modern times, wagering is done by bookmakers or on-site at the racetrack in a pari-mutuel system, in which bettors share equally in the total amount wagered (minus a percentage for track management).

The most famous horse races are called classics, and they are usually restricted to three-year-old horses. They include the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Kentucky Derby, and Preakness Stakes in the United States; the Caulfield Cup, Melbourne Cup, and Durban July in Australia; and Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini in Argentina. In the United Kingdom, there are the King’s Plates and Epsom Derby.

Many people criticize the practice of horse racing, arguing that it is inhumane and corrupted by doping and overbreeding. Others believe that the sport represents a pinnacle of achievement for the horses and should be celebrated. As horse racing evolves, new technologies are being introduced to help keep the sport safe for horses and their jockeys. These advances include thermal imaging cameras that can detect when a horse is overheating after the race, as well as MRI scanners and X-rays that allow veterinary professionals to diagnose health problems with great accuracy.

Despite the criticism and controversy, horse racing continues to thrive as a popular pastime. As the world becomes more digitized, however, the sport has to adapt to new technological developments in order to stay relevant and competitive. As such, many horse races now feature high-tech equipment that allows veterinarians to spot potential problems before they become serious and even offer limb prosthetics to injured horses. The most important technological advancement has been the emergence of high-quality 3D printing machines that can create casts and splints for horses and help them heal faster.