A horse race is a contest in which horses are run for betting purposes. Bettors place bets on the horse they believe will win, either in straight or exotic bets. The horse that wins the race takes home a portion of the total pot, known as the purse. There are many different types of horse races, such as handicaps, stakes, and allowances. A handicap is a type of race in which the weights the horses must carry are adjusted according to the age and racing record of each. A race for two-year olds, for example, is usually a heavier race than a race for five year olds. The handicap system is designed to give the racers an even playing field.

The most prestigious of all horse races is the Triple Crown, consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. Thousands of races are held every year. While the sport of horse racing is generally regarded as a noble endeavor, some people criticize it, arguing that it is inhumane and that the animals are subject to abuse.

Nevertheless, the vast majority of horsemen and horsewomen have no interest in tarnishing the integrity of the sport for those who do not share their beliefs. Despite the fact that it is a business, the relationship between a horseman and his or her horse is one of kinship.

It is this kinship that gives horse racing its enduring popularity. Regardless of the fact that the sport is often marred by doping and overbreeding, many people enjoy the thrill of betting on horse races. The sport is also a major source of income for some families.

But behind the romanticized facade of horse racing lies a world of drug abuse, gruesome breakdowns, and death. The animals that are bred to run in these frenzied sprints-often under the threat of whips and even illegal electric shock devices-can die from cardiovascular collapse, pulmonary hemorrhage (bleeding out of the lungs), and severe head trauma from collisions with other horses or the track itself. Dead racehorses are often found with fractured necks, shattered spines, ruptured ligaments, and broken legs that may be so shattered that skin is the only thing keeping the limbs attached to the rest of the body.