Horse racing is a competitive sport for horses and has been practised throughout history. It is an important part of world culture, as well as being one of the oldest forms of gambling.
Typically, horse races are run over a course of two or three miles (approximately 5,000 yards). In Europe and Australia, they are often run as dash racing (one heat). To win a race, the winning horse and rider must cross the finish line first. If two horses do not cross the finish line first, they will be determined by a photo finish.
The stewards or officials who are responsible for overseeing horse racing will closely examine a photograph of the finish line to determine which horse broke the plane first and then pronounce the winner. If a horse cannot be pronounced the winner, the race will end with dead heat rules.
There are a variety of different bets that can be placed on horse races, from accumulator bets to single bets. A number of online bookmakers offer horse racing betting services, with many offering live streams.
In some countries, the prize money for winning a race can be very large. This can be a great incentive to attend a race, and it also provides the opportunity for horse owners to make extra money.
The racing industry uses a wide variety of legal and illegal drugs, including growth hormones, antipsychotics, anti-inflammatories and blood doping. While these drugs are intended to increase a horse’s performance, they can also cause serious injury or even death.
It is estimated that between ten and twenty thousand American thoroughbreds are slaughtered every year as a result of their involvement in racing.
There are a small number of trainers, jockeys and other people involved in the sport who do not abuse their horses or otherwise break racing rules. These are known as the “good guys” and include a lot of decent horsemen and horsewomen.
However, there are some exceptions to this rule and PETA has recently published a video of what they allege to be “cruelty” by two trainers at some of the world’s most prestigious racing venues. The story is shocking and the images of abuse are heart-breaking.
Animal activists have long criticized racing for a variety of reasons, some of which are valid and others not. But the story of Steve Asmussen and Scott Blasi is particularly compelling.
Asmussen and Blasi are accused of abusing the horses they train. The allegations are based on a video that was produced by PETA and released on the Internet, which shows the trainers using cruel methods to train the horses.
This video is a wake-up call for horse lovers and fans of the sport worldwide, and is an example of the kind of action that needs to be taken by the racing industry to prevent further animal cruelty.
There are a number of ways to watch a horse race, but some of the most popular ways are via Racing TV and ITV. These channels have a huge range of different channels, with a selection of live horse racing from around the world. They can also be watched on the Sky Sports Racing/At The Races channel, and if you are a premium Timeform subscriber, you will get access to much more race analysis.