Horse racing is a sport in which racehorses are ridden by jockeys to compete for prizes. The horses are guided through a course of obstacles, such as hurdles (if present) and fences, to cross the finish line. The winners are awarded a set amount of money, depending on the type of race. The sport originated in ancient Greece, and the first recorded races were between animals hitched to chariots or mounted on barebacks.

Betting on horse races has long been a popular pastime for fans of the sport on a global scale. There are many different types of bets, including placing bets on the winner, placing bets on multiple runners finishing in the top three, and accumulator bets in which several bets are placed together.

The sport is regulated by international organizations like the Jockey Club and similar patterned organizations in other countries. The most important aspect of a horse race is the pedigree, which requires that the sire and dam be pure individuals of the breed. In addition, a racehorse must be healthy enough to participate in the event, and the jockey must ride them in a safe manner, adhering to strict safety rules.

Although the sport has retained a number of its oldest traditions, it has also benefited from technological advances that have occurred over the last few decades. Some of the most significant innovations involve race day safety, such as thermal imaging cameras that detect heatstroke in horses, MRI scanners that allow physicians to spot injuries or illnesses, and 3D printers that can create casts or splints for horses with broken bones.

Another important aspect of the sport is handicapping, which adjusts the amount of weight a horse must carry during a race according to its age and other factors. This is especially important for older horses, which are often over-raced and suffer from a variety of health problems. To address this issue, the Jockey Club has established a system of handicapping based on past performance and earnings.

Some of the most famous horse races are steeplechases, which are a true test of a horse’s speed, endurance, and jumping ability. The Aintree Grand National in the United Kingdom, for example, is a spectacular steeplechase that features 31 fences over a distance of nearly four miles. The Grand National is the only race of its kind to be held in Great Britain, and it attracts spectators from around the world. The Grand National is famous for its challenging obstacles, which include several water jumps, ditches, and wide open spaces. The race is the ultimate challenge for a horse, and it is not uncommon to see an injured or exhausted runner drop out of the running. Despite these difficulties, the Grand National continues to capture the imagination of spectators and punters alike.