A horse race is a competition in which horses are driven to run as fast as they can over a set distance. The horse that completes the race in the shortest time is declared the winner. The sport of horse racing is popular in many countries and has a long tradition. It is considered to be one of the most exciting sports and involves a lot of skill from the horse and rider.

There are a few different ways to bet money on a horse race: betting to win, placing, and showing. Bets to win are made when you place your money on the horse that will come in first place. When you bet to place, you are betting on the horse that will finish second or third. When you bet to show, you are betting on the horse that will come in first, second or third place.

The rules of horse races are constantly being amended to make the sport safer for the horses and fairer to the bettors. Some of these rules include limiting the number of horses in a race, requiring a minimum weight for horses, and requiring a certificate of eligibility from each horse. Horses are also tested for banned substances before each race. Some trainers have been found to use illegal drugs to enhance the performance of their horses.

Before a race starts the horses are weighed and then led into the paddock, where they are saddled and given instructions by their trainers. The jockeys (or riders) then mount the horses and parade them past stewards for inspection. The stewards check the horses to see that they are carrying the proper weight and look for any other rule violations. Saliva and urine samples may also be taken from the horses.

Once the race begins, the stewards and patrol judges watch the race closely to look for any rule violations. They especially watch the horses at the finish line, where a special camera takes pictures of each horse as it crosses the line. During the race, stewards may call in jockeys to ask them about any infractions. They may give the jockeys a warning or disqualify them if they are serious.

Running fast is not easy for horses, especially on oval tracks, which put a strain on their ankles and legs. Many horses need encouragement to keep going hard when they are tired. This can be done by whipping them, or by putting a shadow roll over their noses to reduce the number of things they might see that could startle them and cause them to kick.