Horse races are a worldwide sport, attracting millions of spectators each year. The game has a long history, spanning over centuries and evolving to become a multi-billion dollar industry. Despite the industry’s popularity, growing awareness of cruel training practices and drug use have raised serious concerns over the safety and welfare of the horses involved.

In order to win a horse race, a jockey must navigate the course with his or her mount, jump any required hurdles or fences and arrive over the finish line before all other competing runners and horses. Horses that arrive over the line at the same time are deemed to be in a dead heat and must share the prize money. The winner is declared according to the rules of the particular race, with varying national laws governing how this is determined.

The vast majority of horse races are held on flat tracks. These are usually circular courses and consist of dirt or turf. Depending on the race, they can be categorized as either sprints or long-distance contests. Sprints are regarded as tests of speed, while longer races are known as routes (in the US) or staying races (in Europe). To win a sprint, a runner must demonstrate rapid acceleration. To win a longer distance, a runner must have good stamina.

To prepare a runner for a race, trainers will gradually increase the intensity of his or her workouts. In the final phase of preparation, a runner will be “worked” or “brought up” in grade. Workouts are typically conducted in a track-sanctioned exercise ring, although private facilities may be available for higher-profile events.

Once a horse has broken his or her maiden, he or she can be entered in starter allowances, claiming races or allowance/optional claimers. These contests are intended to provide runners with more race experience and opportunities for success before entering stakes-level competition. These contests are often run at a lower price than those for which horses must be sold, or “claimed,” in order to participate.

In the wild, horses love to run, and doing so brings them joy. But winning a race is not what most Thoroughbreds want to do. As prey animals, they prefer to keep to the middle of the pack to prevent being ambushed or injured by other runners. The post-mortem examination of Havnameltdown – which revealed corticosteroid injections and sedatives – raises alarm bells for many outside the horseracing world.

Politicians and journalists get a bad rap for endlessly parsing poll data, statistics and speculation about who is up or down at any given moment – what’s called horse-race journalism. This updated roundup of research explores the consequences when the focus is on who’s ahead instead of policy issues, and how voters, candidates and journalists themselves suffer as a result.