Horse races are more than just a sport: they’re steeped in centuries of traditions and cultural values. From the ancient chariot races to today’s lavish events like the Kentucky Derby and Royal Ascot, they are a celebration of human and equine spirit. But behind the glitz, glamour, and betting is a dark side: horse racing involves too many harmful practices that are taking their toll on the horses’ bodies and minds.

In the wild, horses love to run. But moving fast and winning a race are human constructs that do not come naturally to prey animals. Instead, horses prefer to run as a group to keep each other safe. The stresses of the modern sport cause injuries to developing bones and ligaments, and horses are pushed beyond their limits by cocktails of legal and illegal drugs. Then, injured horses are forced to compete when their medical advice would have them resting for weeks or months.

Trainers plan races for their horses using a calendar called the condition book. This schedule determines the training regiment that each horse will undergo over a period of time. But even the best-laid plans can fall apart when races do not fill or a horse is claimed before its scheduled race. To make up for this, trainers use substitution races, or “sub-books,” to add additional races to their cards.

Claiming races are designed to provide a level playing field for runners that have not won enough to qualify for higher-level races. In order to remain fair, a horse cannot win a claiming race that it has won in the past. To prevent a trainer from exploiting the system, a horse must be rated as having won at least three races to be eligible for a claiming race. After a horse wins several claiming races, it can advance to the allowance ranks, where it is no longer subject to performance limitations.

Spectators flock to the track to watch the horses run. In addition to a wager on the winner, people also place bets on the position of each horse in the pack and its odds of winning. In the early 1900s, antigambling sentiment nearly wiped out horse racing, but pari-mutuel betting helped to revive the sport. Today, racing is regulated by state racing commissions.

During horse races, each horse is assigned a number that corresponds to its place in the race. The horse that crosses the finish line first is declared the winner. The winner is awarded a certain amount of money, which is determined by the track’s rules and regulations. The winner’s prize money is often donated to charities. The most lucrative stakes are offered at the biggest races, such as the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. Spectators at these events wear elaborate hats and dresses, and sip mint juleps while cheering on their favorite contenders.