Horse racing is a multi-billion dollar industry with popular events such as the Kentucky Derby and Royal Ascot drawing large crowds. Although it has a long history, horse racing continues to evolve with technological advances and updates in regulations.

Horse races are held on an oval track with a dirt or grass surface. A track is divided into sections by barriers that define the course. The shortest distance is one furlong, while the longest is four and a half miles.

There are several different ways to place a bet on a horse race. The most common is to bet to win, which means betting on the horse to come in first place. The other two options are to bet to place and to show. Betting to win is a riskier bet because the payoffs are lower, while placing and showing are more likely to produce a return on your investment.

A horse’s pedigree determines its eligibility to run in a race. A horse’s sire and dam must be purebreds to qualify. In addition, horses must pass a pre-race examination to ensure that they are healthy enough to compete.

The sport’s most important concern is the safety of its equine athletes. Racing officials at Santa Anita flooded the area with veterinarians and expensive imaging equipment to monitor the health of the horses before the Breeders’ Cup race. The equine athletes are also subject to regular drug tests.

Despite these efforts, racetrack deaths rose slightly in 2023 over the previous year. The increase was blamed on a combination of factors, including the rise in drug use and the lack of proper veterinary care. The racetrack’s new agency, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, has promised to improve track safety by improving oversight and increasing training standards.

In 1224, Genghis Khan established the world’s first long-distance postal system by creating a network of horse stations called morin urtuus. His hardy messengers could gallop from Kharkhorin to the Caspian Sea in just a few days. Today, the Mongol Derby recreates this grueling thousand-kilometer race every August.

The popularity of horse racing has a long history, with the activity being incorporated into many ancient cultures. In the early days of modern horse racing, stamina was more important than speed. However, the advent of faster and lighter horses led to an emphasis on speed. As the sport evolved, more races were contested and the rules of the game became more refined. By the late 19th century, Thoroughbreds were bred for both speed and endurance, resulting in the development of an extremely competitive breed. Today, there are more than 150 horse race tracks in the United States, with a combined total of over four million annual visitors. The majority of these visits are made to thoroughbred races, which are primarily held at six major racing facilities. Among the most famous are the Belmont Stakes, the Kentucky Derby, and the Preakness Stakes. Other races are held at smaller tracks throughout the country.