A horse race is a contest in which a jockey (rider) mounts a horse and competes against other horses to win a prize. It is one of the most popular sports in the world and there are many different types of races, each requiring specific skills.

The first rule of a horse race is that the winner must be able to beat the other competing horses by a certain distance or time. This is called beating the field and the horses are measured to see how far they have beaten them by using a device known as a pace clock. The pace clock measures how fast the horse runs over a distance of 1,500 feet and is designed to show whether or not the horse has accelerated faster than its competitors.

There are many different races in horse racing, with some of the most prestigious being the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Each race is run under a set of rules which are determined by the governing body of horse racing. These rules dictate how a horse is allowed to be handled during training and the course of the race itself. Some races are categorized as handicapped, in which the weights the horses carry are adjusted according to their age or ability. This allows for a more fair competition and is especially beneficial for younger horses and female horses racing against males.

Horses are also subject to random drug testing, which can reveal many egregious violations. Trainers often push horses to the limit and they are routinely drugged in an attempt to mask injuries and enhance performance. This can lead to a number of problems, such as exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, or bleeding from the lungs during a race. This condition is caused by a lack of oxygen to the blood in the lungs and can be fatal.

The growing awareness of the dark side of horse racing has fueled improvements in the industry, but there is still much work to be done. Horse racing is losing fans, revenue, and race days every year and serious reform is needed in order for the sport to thrive.