A horse race is a competition in which horses and jockeys compete to win a prize based on the number of lengths they cover within a set time. The horse race has become a popular sport around the world, with more than 80 racetracks in the United States and another 200 in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and South America. In the United States, the most popular horse races are the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.

The term horse race is also used to describe a political contest, especially an election. However, focusing on who is in the lead or behind instead of policy issues can be harmful to democracy and public opinion, according to recent research. This collection of updated articles explores the impact of “horse race coverage” on voters, candidates and the news industry itself.

In the 18th century, the prestige and money associated with racing motivated breeders to create faster horses. British soldiers returning from desert battlefields told tales of their opponents’ amazing horses sprinting through sand, sparking a breeding revolution that produced leaner, faster equines known as Thoroughbreds. The new breed was well suited to the rigors of running and a new oval course offered better views for spectators, boosting interest in the sport.

One of the most important skills in horse racing is changing leads, or which side of the body a runner uses to propel itself. Most horse races are run in a counter-clockwise direction, so a runner typically will use his right lead on straightaways and his left lead rounding the turns. A horse that uses the same lead for too long will tire more quickly, so the rider must instruct him to change leads on cue.

A horse’s “trip” describes the trouble it encountered during the running of a race, such as being boxed in by other runners or having to circle wide at certain times. A good trip would include few unusual difficulties; a bad trip, on the other hand, might involve a difficult start or a long distance to cover.

Before a race begins, a bettors watches the horse in the walking ring to see if it looks healthy and ready to run. A healthy, well-conditioned horse should be in peak physical condition and have a shiny coat with rippling muscles and a bit of sweat. If a horse looks dull or drab, or its legs are shaking, it is considered unfit to race. Injuries are common in horse racing and can derail a career. The majority of injuries occur to the chest, abdomen, thigh, hindquarters and back. Many horses bleed from their lungs after exertion, a condition called exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. In an attempt to reduce bleeding, most are treated with a cocktail of legal and illegal drugs. Some horses also take a decongestant to help them breathe, while others take a drug that increases heart rate and blood flow to the lungs. Both medications are banned in some countries, but are widely used in the United States.