A horse race is a contest of speed among horses that are either ridden by jockeys or pulled by sulkies with drivers. The horses may be Thoroughbreds or Standardbreds, which are the two breeds most commonly used in horse racing. A horse’s pedigree is one of the things that allow it to race; to be eligible for a standardbred flat race, for instance, its sire and dam must both be pure-bred. Despite this requirement, there are some non-standardbred horses that compete in horse races as well.

The sport of horse racing is a centuries-old one. It originated in Europe and was introduced to North America with the British occupation of New Amsterdam in 1664. Early races were match events between two or three horses and were run in heats, with a win in two of the three heats determining the winner. By the mid-18th century, standardized races were being run over distances between 440 yards (400 m) and four miles (6 km). Individually, these are called sprints and long-distance races respectively. In general, sprints are seen as tests of speed, while long-distance races are viewed as tests of stamina.

Throughout much of the world, races are usually held at racetracks that have dirt or synthetic surfaces. They are typically crowded with spectators, who cheer on their favorites with betting bets.

There are a number of different types of horse races, with each type having its own set of rules and requirements. For example, to be eligible for a flat horse race in the United States, a horse must have both its sire and dam be purebred. In addition, a horse must meet minimum age and weight requirements to be entered in a particular race. A horse must also be trained to be ridden or driven, and it must be in good health in order to race.

While horse races are a fun spectacle for spectators, they are extremely dangerous for the horses involved. The horses are forced to sprint—often with whips—at speeds that can cause serious injuries and breakdowns. The cruelty of the horse racing industry is well documented, with animal rights organizations like PETA exposing horse abuse and slaughterhouses around the world.